Opinion I Nigeria, 19 Yrs After; Buhari, 3 Yrs On

NIGERIA, 19 YRS AFTER; BUHARI, 3 YRS ON

        Penultimate week, the Nigeria’s democratic system elatedly clocked nineteen. Though the country had from the outset been experiencing – at intervals – democratic leadership, it’s emergence in 1999 which marked the fourth republic hasn’t been interrupted till date.

        This signifies that we’ve thus far, since 1999, enjoyed an uninterruptible democracy. It suffices to say that the style of leadership in question has consecutively lasted for 19 years without interruption, hence has apparently come to stay.

        In spite of the countless challenges so far witnessed in the country’s civil rule, there’s one big reason for the citizenry to celebrate the aforementioned milestone. The reason remains that, the worst democratic sphere is far better than the best autocratic rule or any other.

        This implies that as we groan over the devastating pattern of democracy being harboured in the most populous and popular black nation, we ought to be consoled by the fact that democracy can never in any way be equated with autocracy, hence are not unlike two parallel lines that have no meeting point.

        It would be recalled that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) premiered the leadership of the ongoing republic. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was at the helm of affairs at the time. Nigerians were of the view that soonest the country would be ushered into the long awaited Promised Land. But pathetically, eight years after, no tangible development was recorded.

        The show of uncertainty continued unabated till 2015 when a merger party branded as the All Progressives Congress (APC) surprisingly unseated the ruling PDP via the mandate of the people’s votes. The defeat was not unconnected with the fact that the citizens yearned for a change having ostensibly gotten weary of the PDP’s administration.

        President Muhammadu Buhari who came on board in 2015 under the auspices of the APC, celebrated his 3 years in office last Tuesday. It’s worthy of note that prior to his victory at the polls, his party was able to attract the attention of the teeming Nigerians with the aid of its change mantra.

        In his acceptance nationwide speech after the election, Pres. Buhari pledged that, under his watch, the lingered societal plights such as insecurity, corruption and epileptic economy shall be addressed headlong.

        Ironically, as the journey progressed in the course of tackling the Boko Haram menace which was mainly occurring in the North Eastern part of Nigeria, other security challenges abruptly sprang up in virtually all the parts of the country.

        In the area of corruption fight, he has succeeded in minimizing some ugly situations that used to be the order of the day in the public service through the fierce implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and the Bank Verification Number (BVN).

        However, the people are baffled that despite the various ongoing court proceedings, no single conviction had been recorded, perhaps owing to the notion that “corruption is fighting back” as recently alleged by the government, not until barely last week when an erstwhile governor of Taraba State Jolly Nyame was served a verdict.

        The economy cannot be left out while dissecting the overall leadership stride of the present administration. Recession came into place the moment the Buhari-led government took over the mantle of leadership reportedly as a result of the drastic decline in the oil price.

        In view of the recessionary era, several firms operating across the country became bankrupt thereby leading to redundancy. Nevertheless, we must acknowledge that even if the PDP was still in charge, the recession wouldn’t have been avoided.

         Although the president disclosed in his Democracy Day speech that the country’s foreign reserve had “improved significantly” to $47.5bn as of May, 2018 as against $29.6bn in 2015, it’s difficult to believe considering that importation isn’t yet curtailed because foreign products still abound in the country.

       The address equally told us that inflationary rate had “consistently reduced every month since January 2017”, but currently, the prices of goods and services in our numerous markets still endlessly skyrocket.

        On agriculture, Mr. President categorically informed that rice importation had been “cut down by 90%”, but till date, our various markets are engulfed in foreign-made rice. As I write, you would hardly see a home in the country that mainly consumes locally-made grains.

         The president further boasted about the effectiveness of the ongoing Social Investment Programmes (SIP). It’s mind-boggling that the various initiatives embedded in the said programmes are yet to meaningfully solve the problems of unemployment and hunger that informed their implementation.

         It was saddening that the Mr. President’s 35-paragraph address didn’t address issues concerning the inevitable health sector, especially taking into cognizance that the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) was still on strike during the period in review. Similarly, the proposal for workers’ minimum wage increment was tactically, or perhaps mistakenly, omitted.

        Pres. Buhari concluded by promising that the ‘Not too young to run’ bill would soonest be signed into law, and consequently fulfilled the pledge barely 48 hours after. The gesture shows that he truly means well for the youth. But, doesn’t his quest for re-election come 2019 indicate a paradox as regards the newest law? Think about it!     

Comrade Fred Nwaozor

- Policy analyst & Rights activist -

National Coordinator, Right Thinkers Movement

__________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

Twitter: @mediambassador            

Opinion I Imo APC: When Frivolities Misplace Priorities

IMO APC: WHEN PRIORITIES ARE MISPLACED WITH FRIVOLITIES

        

The last time I checked, it was obvious that even the blind could see that all is not presently well with the Imo State Chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

        

It suffices to assert that any member of the party domiciled in the state, who tries to pretend that all is well, is definitely deceiving him/herself. And self-deceit, which has claimed millions of souls than diseases and accidents had, would be the worst thing that would happen to the chapter’s existence if it lingers.

         

A-day-old child could boldly testify that ever since the scheduled congresses took place, or perhaps inconclusively conducted, in the state, several factions have emanated from the party and are apparently being harboured by its National Working Committee (NWC).

         

After the Ward Congress in the state, it was in the news that the man who was assigned to pilot the affairs of the political outing was nowhere to be; needless to say that he reportedly vanished into thin air with the congress materials. On the other hand, in some quarters, it was gathered that the congress held successfully as planned by the NWC.

        

The faction of the state’s governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha that alleged and insisted that no congress took place in the state was asked by the NWC to appeal their claim, and they did as instructed. Consequently, the Appeal Committee, probably after every consequential finding, reportedly concluded the exercise in favour of the other major faction known as the Allied Forces that the congress held in all the wards across the state.

        

Subsequently, the scheduled Local Government (LG) and State congresses suffered a big challenge even as their outcomes have been upheld by the NWC’s delegate to the state in spite of the claim from the governor’s faction that no such events occurred in the state in its entirety. Moreover, it’s worthy of note that the governor informed the public that a court injunction was obtained to put the state congress on hold till further notice.

        

From the onset, as expected, the happenings have kept the governor in restless mood even as he has stated publicly that he is still in charge of the party as far as the Eastern Heartland is concerned. While the other faction – equally called Imo APC Restoration Coalition – is claiming that they had succeeded in sidelining Governor Okorocha’s relevance in the party’s affairs, the governor’s faction made up of his allies and protégés has been strongly announcing that the number one citizen “is still in charge” of the day-to-day activity of the party.

        

It’s noteworthy that currently, there’s an existing parallel Executive Council (EXCO) in the APC in all the levels in the Eastern Heartland, ranging from the Ward, LG to the State level. As the governor has refused to work with the democratically elected State Chairman of the party Chief Hillary Ekeh alongside his fellow elected officers, he had in his capacity instituted his own chairman coupled with other officials.

          

This is to say the least that the heat is really on. But, I wonder how the chapter intends to participate in the elective national convention of the party come June 23, 2018 if it harbours a parallel EXCO.

         

Initially, I chose to remain mute, or act as a mere onlooker as the melodrama progressed. But having keenly observed that it has ceased to be a mere melodrama as we earlier perceived, I thought it wise to break the silence of my humble pen.

        

This implies that the emergence of this critique is informed by the compelling need to let the Imo APC stalwarts, and the members in general, comprehend the dangers inherent in the ongoing uproar and disagreement among them.

        

All the factions involved might be enjoying the anomaly, thinking it is to their advantage, not knowing it blows none of them any good. Some of the factions may be continually popping Champagne to their delight with the belief that they have gotten victory and the people’s support. I want to use this medium to disabuse them of the notion that victory has been recorded thus far, hence the need not to celebrate in haste.

         

I told the governor sometime last year that if His Excellency failed to put his house in order, by same time this year, he might be regretting his actions as a politician, Imolite as well as the leader of the APC; I equally informed him that some factions would emanate owing to the foreseen failure. At the moment, my prophecy has come to past, because the number one citizen cannot candidly tell us that he is enjoying the lingering drama, or happy with what is trending in the party.

        

As a leader of the party, I must truly say that if the governor is really concerned, he should be in a confused state at the moment. If he really cares about the wellbeing of the party coupled with his political interest, he ought to currently be nurturing some regrets, even though he has tried so far to conceal the injury sustained in the process.

         

Then, if the above observation is right, I see no reason the governor shouldn’t think of embracing a rethink. If the gospel truth must be told, the best thing that could happen to Gov. Okorocha is to have a second thought over his actions, hence the need to consider going back to the drawing board. I can’t joyfully watch his downfall; that’s the reason I’m urging him to have a rethink towards making amends where need be.

        

The injury incurred by the governor and his camp members thus far is unequivocally self-inflicted because he was busy communicating to the world that only the person he anoints in the party would emerge the next governor of the state, forgetting that no one is an Ireland.

         

I kept reiterating, and will continue to say, that no individual owns a political party or any association. An association is generally owned and managed by every member of it, thus it is very wrong for one to assume that he alone would determine what happens in a group he belongs simply because he’s involved in its leadership. Without mincing words, such an ideology is indeed misleading.

         

The other major factions of the APC ought to, on their part, endeavour to acknowledge that a divided house cannot achieve its aim, hence the need for them not to celebrate their purported victory if they are really ready to be relevant in the electioneering era come 2019.

         

So, as I enjoin Gov. Okorocha to swallow his ego with a view to retracing his steps, I enjoin his opponent to equally be troubled over the division in the family. It’s high time everyone involved in the altercation detested self-deceit. Think about it!

Comrade Fred Nwaozor

- Policy analyst & Rights activist -

National Coordinator, Right Thinkers Movement

_______________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Follow me: @mediambassador                                      

Opinion I On Power Spending And Way Forward

DISSECTING THE CONTROVERSIAL POWER SECTOR

          

On Tuesday, 22^nd May 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari while speaking to members of the Buhari Support Organization (BSO) led by the Comptroller-General of Customs Col. Hameed Ali who called on him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, reechoed that the erstwhile president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo expended about $16 billion on the power project without anything to show for it.

        

 It would be recalled that the said allegation has been in the public sphere for over a decade now, though had been strongly refuted by the accused person. 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 National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) with little or no effect. He alleged that, on power sector alone, the administration of the former president spent a total of $16bn.

          

Nevertheless, it was gathered that late president Yar’Adua’s administration expended $5.375bn on power, whilst his immediate successor Dr. Goodluck Jonathan spent $8.26 billion. In a nutshell, the country, within the years in review, reportedly spent about a whopping sum of $29.635bn only on a quest for steady power supply.

         

The bitter truth remains that Nigeria has expended funds amounting to trillions of naira on the power sector within the last nineteen years. But rather than dwelling on our failure, or apportioning blames, it’s imperative for the country to henceforth concentrate on the way forward.

        

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 struggling toward boasting of steady seven thousand megawatts (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 fifty thousand megawatts (50,000MW). Such a shocking phenomenon calls for thorough and candid examination in the said sector.

        

During the past administrations, Chief 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. In furtherance of the motive, the NIPP was equally initiated.

          

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 thirty degree Celsius (30*C). The country abounds 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 situated in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State invented by Prof. Bart Nnaji and his team needs to be encouraged effectively.

         

As I urge the Buhari-led government to extend hand of fellowship to the cognoscenti towards doing the needful, we must take into cognizance that there ought to be a holistic probe into the dwindling power sector. Think about it!

Comrade Fred Nwaozor

National Coordinator, Right Thinkers Movement

___________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056 

Twitter: @mediambassador