Nigeria, A Paradox?
July 11, 2008 by 
Guest Writer · Leave a Comment
Written by: ADEKUNLE THEOPHILIUS
At times, i just stare at space in particular, as i ponder over life in Nigeria. I always find it difficult to fathom the Nigerian clime and stereotype. Most inexplicable is the fact that things that are anomalous in decent climes are passed off as acceptable and the norm in Nigeria. To be plain, Nigeria is a country where aberration thrives, where the ludicrous reigns supreme and the absurd stumps over the terrain like a colossus.
Why are we so misanthropic in this country for God’s sakes?, it’s so hard to decipher!, is it a natural or a mentality thing?, How can a society in the 21st century deride people for espousing honesty, how can people be condemned for decent works?, how can corruption be so brazenly condoned and promoted by a state.
No issue is most poignant than the events after the death of Abraham Adesanya. I am sure the man must be weeping and gnashing his teeth in his grave with the way he was messed up and things he would never have subscribed to while alive was made the norm on his demise. This is a modest and frugal man shunned ostentation, flippancy, mediocrity,opulence and equivocation. He was a practical man who lived a life devoid of self aggrandizement and watched his circle of friends. But his demise showed that death is not a deterrent to grandiose looting by Nigerians.
I was shocked that the south western states budgeted a whooping sum of N150 Million Naira!, for what? a clear assault on the moderate lifestyle of one of the last icons of the golden era and all he stood for all his life. Not to talk of all the needless renovations and vain window dressing embarked upon in ijebu igbo. To cap it again, we witnessed the squandering of millions( mostly state funds) on messages by an array of political prostitutes and unprincipled harlots. Then came the AC people and i almost puked in disgust!, these are the same people together with the AD governors who created the problems of his health in the first place, the same people who utilized the Afenifere platform to actualize their political desires and now turned around to undermine and denigrate the simple old man.
The worst was yet to come, it becomes mordant when thieves, confirmed treasury looters, murderers, questionable characters and criminals stormed the house with so much aura and air and where well received, given prominence and even great media attention. I just thought that if alive,would Abraham Adesanya wanted to have any thing to do with the likes of Alamieseigha or Ibori?. where was Tinubu, all the AC people and ex AD governors when the old man was incapacitated? couldn’t all those that contributed 150M spend a fraction on him?None of those wolves in sheep’s clothing bothered about the man when he was down? Would adesanya be happy with the millions of naira in state funds flittered on newspaper messages on him when most of the constituents of these state and local government officials do not have access to the basic necesities of life?
We can go on and on, but the issue is that cant the man and his ideals be respected in all these events? do they think the man was happy when he died? don’t you think that he must have weeped heavily at the current state of Nigeria?, don’t you think the man must have been overwhelmed with grief noticing that all the things they fought for over the past 50 or so years had gone down the drain?, don’t you think he must have shook his head in regret at the uncertain future of the country and it’s people?. Undeniably, if he had his way to speak after death, he must have begged Nigerians to celebrate him, but such day should be a day of sober reflection at the parlous state of the nation.But no we squandered all that,some people just capitalized on the icon’s death to loot their respective treasuries. The man deserved to be celebrated, he deserved a state burial, but he did not deserve the wasting and looting of funds by governments, the predominance and crocodile tears of the very people responsible for his demise and the presence of shady and questionable characters at his home and funeral.
MR ADEKUNLE THEOPHILIUS WROTE FROM ABUJA
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PETER OBI; a pinhole peep
June 18, 2008 by Che Oyimnatumba · 2 Comments
The journey to Agulu Anambra State began with a distress call from Mrs. Anulika Obienyem. I have known her from my hay days in Abuja and she has been a faithful friend. The message from the call was simple, “my father-in-law is dead. We had to bury him immediately according to his wish.” I was dumbfounded that the Igbo man could bury his deceased relation in record time. To confirm this sad story, I got a call from Valentine Obienyem, Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State.
I have known Val. for over ten years, as far back as in our undergraduate days in Lagos State University and a fraternal friendship is still blossoming over since. I cancelled all my engagements to make sure that I attend the final burial rites of his father, Ozo Bonaventure Obienyem, who died at the age of 78. Apart from Val. being a reliable friend in the university, my first child was actually conceived in his house at Lugbe, Abuja.
Having put my relationship with Val in perspective; let me regale you with the journey to his father’s burial that ended up in an unforgettable encounter with the democratic phenomenon of Nigeria’s democratic experience, Mr. Peter Obi.
I took off from Abuja my economic exiled base to Biafra (South East Nigeria) and anchored in Owerri. The conversation in the bus was centred on the marginalization of the Igbos in Nigeria, despite the”no victor no vanquished” declaration by the Gowon administration at the end of the 30- month civil war.
As an afterthought, the passengers zoomed in on the non-performance of the South-East governors. While these arguments raged, all the passengers were in agreement that the Amanbra State governor is in a class of his own and a trail blazer in the enforcement of rule of law, firm belief in the due process and integrated approach to development. Why won’t he, I belched, after all it was the judiciary that restored his stolen mandate. It should be remembered that Governor Peter Obi ran through the judiciary gauntlet to reclaim his mandate stolen by Dr. Chris Ngige of the PDP, after the former had spent 3 years in office.
Ever since Peter Obi regained his mandate, he has stuck to the rule of law and due process, with little regards to whose ox is gored. Despite these pass mark given to Peter Obi in the bus, I still remained a doubting Thomas. My pinch-of-salt faith in the accolades showered on Peter Obi, sprang from the numerous newspaper advertorials by governors, brandishing what they have done during the past one year. Yet in their states, there is nothing to show for it. The dividends of democracy and good governance to their people are on the pages of newspapers and the crafty imagination of their image makers.
As though one passenger read my mind, I was reminded that the ongoing stalemate with the PDP dominated state House of Assembly is nothing but the governor’s stubbornness that the interest of the Anambra people must prevail against party and selfish interest. With great skepticism about reports from bush telegrams and Nigerian arm chair investigative journalists, over the super performances of the governors, I proceeded to Agulu via Ideato North.
To my greatest shock, the road from Urualla is as smooth as the Abuja-Keffi road. When I passed my Alma Mater, St. John Chrysostom Seminary Osina, pride swelled up to a bursting point in me. It was in this school, under steady hands of Rev. Sam Ilo that my faith was shaped. It was also there that my first baptism of rebellion was born. I protested the forceful banning of vernacular by Mazi C.C. our form master in Class 2B. I still have fresh memories of my brief stay in that school.
Akokwa to Ekwulobia was a pleasure to travel on and once in a long time, I was proud of the South East roads. Another interesting observation was the absence of bill boards advertising the governor. A trip round other South-East states, in fact the whole federation, you will have the faces of their governors welcoming you to squalor, unemployment and insecurity.
But that was not the case in Anambra. As we cruised across the border of Imo and Anambra, no nuisance bill board was welcoming me to Anambra. I started feeling there is something different about the state. But my pride knew no bound when I got to Obe Village, Agulu, the venue and Val’s village. There was electricity, which I understand has been there since the seventies. One could feel the fresh air exhuming from the green trees and virgin vegetation.
I was minding my beer, discussing Barack Obama’s half chance in November, reinterpretation of Andy Uba’s empty mandate and the failure of the opposition parties to challenge the foisting of Rotimi Amaechi at the Rivers State Election Tribunal with Barrister Emeka Ikedigwe that I paid no attention when the Governor’s presence was announced by the master of ceremony. But when Peter Obi appeared, with little fanfare, my pride did a somersault and at once I longed to be a governor in the shoes of Peter Obi.
Peter Obi came with the most skeletal security out-fit I have seen in modern times. Coming from Abuja, where a common minister intimidates road users, it was a cultural shock for me to see a governor at close range and his security details were not over -zealous, not wearing Abacha-like goggles and scaring electorates. I cannot remember the last time I was this at ease in the presence of security men.
To crown it all, Peter Obi ate in public glare. No special venue was arranged for him to eat. This simplicity touched me that I could not help but think, how better Nigeria will be if all governors will borrow a leaf from Peter Obi, make themselves accessible and not build wall of Jericho with Policemen around the governor. You may also wish to know that the convoy used by Peter Obi had about four cars; there was no dispatch rider or a lorry load of Mobile Policemen.
The siren was not at full blast. The governor mixed well with the people and was accessible to all who wanted to chip a word into his ever listening ears. With a wide smile and gentle voice the governor nodded to the praise singers and cheerfully made himself available to all and sundry. Read more
Ikedi Ohakim vs Sir Victor Umeh - It’s Over!
May 22, 2008 by OCI · Leave a Comment
When the Governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim declared in his recent Aka Ikenga lecture at NIIA, Lagos that ‘It’s over’ he was not un-mindful of elements like Sir victor Umeh.
In his lecture as reported by Ochorome Nnanna in the Vanguard he opines that some people within Ndigbo are acclaimed ’marginalisation cryers’ who have perpertually refused to see that the war was over decades ago; he observed thus
They have not accepted us back after the war. The war is still going on in their minds; it’s only the shooting that stopped. They are cheating us. They are killing us. They have enslaved us. We are marginalised. They have given us inferior ministries. They are doing this to us. They are doing that to us.
I have no doubts, it is the likes of Sir Umeh that have not yet realised that ‘it is over’; Umeh’s purported reaction in today’s Vanguard leaves a lot to be desired. As much as one allows oppostion to his/her views, one does not just oppose for the sake of doing it , in other to be heard. Umeh still re-echoes the same old lines that Ohakim had earlier outlined. Sir Umeh, get it, it’s over! Just like Ohakim said;
It’s their fault. Fingers were pointed into the air, at them. But as it happens, when you point one finger at others, three are pointing back at you, telling you to search yourself first and be sure whether the fault is not really yours. Look at the mirror first. Are you sure the main problem is not that person who is staring back at you?
How many fingers are pointing at you? How much have you been searching yourself lately? Probably, you do not have a mirror to examine yourself.
The time has come and indeed, it’s time we start listening to the likes of Ohakim and other liberated Ndigbo sons/daughters out there so that we all can help deliver Igbo land from the defeatist physic that have beleaguered it since the war ended. We have what it takes to get ourselves out of this doldrums. We need to look inwards and rid ourselves of the marginalisation mentality as preached by our jobbers and buccaneers ( Ori na Crisis people ) representatives. They have not helped our cause and quest in the past nor present and the future holds nothing for them in Igbo affairs.
Let us rise above the defeatist mentality and invoke the Igbo unsuppressible spirit of enterprise and self preservation, with which we shall overcome and together we will establish the Igbo nation of our dreams.
You may not agree with the messenger in Ohakim, but let us listen to him. He has got a lot to say. ( Okpu okwu n’onu! )
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INCONSEQUENTIAL INCONSISTENCES.
April 23, 2008 by Che Oyimnatumba · 2 Comments
By Che Oyinatumba
If you have not read or heard of the call for a revolution by Professor Ben Nwabueze (SAN) during his book presentation, its either you have seen the emptiness of the call or the un-seriousness of the callers. Prof. Nwabueze first made this call during an interview reported in The Guardian of Sunday January 13 2008. At the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), the venue of his book presentation he was boldened by the presence of the new “enemies” of Obasanjo to pull the tiger by the tail. These characters: Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, G.O.K Ajayi (SAN) Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) Orji Uzor Kalu, Ayo Fayose, Emeka Ngige (SAN) Otunba Fasawe. (For a comprehensive list see Cicero @ Thisday, the Sunday Newspaper April 6 2008, page 103.) Like you who have not read, I chose not to reply, for the “bellful” cannot prescribe revolution. These characters can’t withstand anything. Their primary interest, is how to undermine the genuine agitation of the masses, so as to be seen as a sympathetic class in the plight of the masses. For expose on the emptiness of their revolutionary credentials, read: Obasanjo, Nwabueze and Revolution by Femi Falana, Thisday April 14. (Back page).
I elected to do a rejoinder to this call, after reading Femi Falana’s reply to Kayode Komolafe’s Our Latter Day Revolutionaries, Thisday April 6th and Sam Omatseye’s Not yet a revolution in the Nation Newspaper of April 14th 2008. Juxtaposing Femi Falana and Sam Omatseye, I cannot but get into the fray.
Of all the comments I have read on this irritant call for a revolution, Sam’s Not Yet a Revolution is the most apt and a must read for what is left of the Nigerian left. In divers write ups, I have maintained that the dearth of credible opposition, in Nigerian political land mine, is the absence of an alternative based on ideology.
Most Marxists of the 70s – early 90s, have “torpedoed” into NGOism and international donor seeking beggars. The very few relics are working either as SA, PA or hangers on to politicians who were discredited in their university days. You have a situation where club/party boys, carparkites, loafers are now employing “ism” quoting, long bearded, non-conformist radicals of the 70s - 90s.
It is this lack of revolutionary elite (Sam Omatseye) and revolutionary organizations that made these bloated oppressors of the masses to call for a revolution.
Furthermore, the masses of Nigeria are disappointed by the so called “comrades.” The shallowness of this was exposed by past president Obasanjo, when he ridiculed a young chap from Niger Delta, who introduced himself as “comrade. Loquacious Obasanjo replied, “Even Adams Oshiomole is no longer a comrade.” This is an insight revelation, for Obasanjo, despite what people say, has a Machiavellian understanding of power and how to seduce his enemies. All those celebrating Adams victory in Edo, should watch it, as Adams may not be better (read last 2 pages of George Owell’s Animal Farm). Adams has started romancing Tony Anineh, the prince of Edo PDP, who foisted and sustained Lucky Igbenedion for wasteful 8years in Edo state.
I opened this can of worm because Sam listed wasted opportunities for a revolution and missed out the fuel increment rally that had Nigerians mobilized and ready for a showdown, only for Adam’s NLC to chicken out. The “revolutionaries” in the civil liberty/human right movement cried foul, especially with the death of Chima Ubani. Like Sam’s submissions, this also was wasted.
Is revolution feasible in Nigeria? In as much as there are inconsistencies in the character of the messenger, must we throw away his message? The messengers – Nwabueze and gang, (through leprous) have raised a mirror. Killing them (though they will be among the first victims of any uprising), will not change the message that there is a need to address the drifting gulf between the poor and the rich in Nigeria.
Nigerians are so traumatized by poverty that they only want the basics of life. Most Nigerians, will vote in a benevolent thief, who will steal with a basket, for the content of the basket will slip out and quench their hunger, provide light, give quality education and healthcare; there will be no need to go to Germany to cure “cold.”
Most of Nwabueze’s gang is employers of labor, what are the working conditions in the factory they own? For the SANs, what is the take home of a lawyer with 5yrs post call? Let everyone brighten the coner where he is. Revolution begins with rebellion of the heart, the challenge of the status quo wherever and whenever you see it. As the saying goes, injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
Nwabueze’s gang should sheath their dane guns, for the greatest impediment to revolution in Nigeria is the almighty United State. With t he unipolar imbalance of power after the collapse of USSR, any uprising must have the blessing of America, secure a steady flow of crude oil and guarantee that EU interests will not be attacked.
For Femi Falana who supports Nwabueze’s call, I ask where are the revolutionary elite to mentor a cadre of selfless Nigerians to die for the cause? The victims of June 12 are yet to be integrated by “big boys” of the human right community, who got lime-light via the sacrifice of these victims.
There is need to revive the “aluta” culture In Nigerian Universities, to challenge the evils that are daily oozing out in Nigeria. This can be done by building study centres, interactive forum between the mainstream labour movement and the student body. If these cadres on campus are not harvested, the dearth of viral labour movement will remain an epidemic and the quest for a just workers friendly environment will remain but a fleeting illusion to be pursued but never attained-Apologies to Bob Marley. Ex-while NANS comrades, who are now SAs, Pas should be discouraged from splitting National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), turning her into award awarding organization and a willing tool of agitation in favor of any politician that doles out the heaviest Ghana-must-go.
Akin to this, comrades across the divides, should join hands and build a labour party, arming her as a tool in the democratic overthrow of the existing oppressive political structure in Nigeria.
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Where Is My god?
April 13, 2008 by Che Oyimnatumba · Leave a Comment
Written by: Che Oyinatumba.
“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice saying Eli, Eli lama sabachthani? That is to say my God, my God why hast thou forsaken me?”-The Gospel of Matthew 27 Vs 46.
For those who share my Christian idiosyncrasy, the above should be read with a pinch of Roman Catholic flavour. Patron Saints are allowed and not being satisfied with Oyinbo Saints, I have started beatification of Nigerians, to swell up our quota in the chain of Saints. Who knows when we pray in the name of Nigerian Saints, who understand our peculiar plight, the right hand of God will be moved to revive Nigeria and rouse the sleeping giant in us all. For those who may want to accuse me of being an idolater, they should not be more Catholic than the Pope, Mother Theresa was made a saint while alive.
But the Nigerian I want to honour today is galaxy years ahead of sainthood. Chief Ganiyu Oyesola Fawehinmi (forget the SAN), is a god, whose invoke is a condition precedent to the analysis and solution to Nigerians injustice.
For some time now, my prayers have been rudderless as I do not know where my god is. I have consulted modern Ifa (Newspapers), wondered in search of direction, regurgitating old works of this colossus, praying for a direction out of this eclipse of Nigeria. It is obvious that the House Committee on Power to Stael (Steel) members are not well grounded on the facts of inquest they are prosecuting and no social commentator has analysed it pragmatically as Chief (Gani) would have done.
How do you describe the sun to your inquisitive son but merely to ask him to look up? Same applies to any attempt to introduce Chief. Chief has been committed to the struggle for justice to all, especially the common man since he was an infant but came to national attention in February 1969, when as a young lawyer, he took the brief of a factory hand (Abashia) who alleged that the then Secretary to Benue/Plateau government Andrew Obeya, had an affair with his wife. Joseph Gomwalk walked into the matter and used state apparatus to cow Chief and when this failed, a kidnap was attempted but it was also futile and the military detained him without trial thus beginning the long journey of detentions of Chief often without trial. (Imprisoned 29 times, living in 15 prisons and numerous police cells across the country.)
No lawyer has expanded the frontier of the constitution more than Chief. He has won landmark cases and pronouncements, which have enlarged the enjoyment of fundamental human rights by Nigerians present and yet unborn. No lawyer is a lawyer without reading Gani’s Nigeria Weekly Law Report (NWLR). Even the Judge that jailed Gani in 1990, Justice Ligali Ayorinde, agreed that “Gani’s chambers…have been terrorising the judiciary”-African Concord 29th January 1990 Why I jailed Gani.
Gani the politician did not fare well. He lacks the subtle deception of Nigerian politicians. To confront Abacha, whom Chief had naively invited to take over and install MKO, he formed National Conscience Party and in 2003, contested presidential election. Most of his worshippers including this writer, felt Chief would have done well in the senate and build a vibrant opposition (it was clear he wouldn’t win any presidential election in Nigeria as presently constituted)
Chief as a social crusader, a judicial activist and intellectual, is in a class of his own. His passion often propels him into line of fire before grasping the facts of the matter. But once involved, he effortlessly changes trajections and armoury till he panels out a victory for the people. This was the case in his fight against ex-governor of Lagos state Bola Tinubu. Section 308 of the 1999 constitution came to Tinubu’s rescue but Gani got victory. You can now investigate a sitting governor; section 308 merely says you can’t prosecute.
Since the murder of Dele Giwa (publisher of Newswatch) in 1986 under the dictatorial watch of IBB and Halilu Akilu, Gani has gone through the length and dept of Nigerian legal system to get IBB to answer some unresolved questions. At Oputa Panel, the articulation and brilliance of Chief was on display so much so that even his “enemies” could not help but admire his resourcefulness and commitment. But IBB and other ex-military heads of state beat him to it, got a court order restraining them from appearing before the panel. Another example of to Gani’s attention to details came to lime-light when like a village headmaster, a cane in hand, he appeared on a national TV and demonstrated the cost implication of ex-president Obasanjo’s perambulation and incessant increments of fuel price. Today, Gani has been vindicated. All the globetrotting of Obasanjo did not bring any meaningful oyinbo investor rather inferior onyibos were imported to further under develop Nigeria.
Gani’s uprightness, high moral credentials and courage are unquestionable. Gani never waited for “anybody” to be out of office before pointing out his sins to him. Unlike these modern day turn-coat democrats, who are now calling OBJ names after stealing and aiding in OBJ’s ruin of Nigeria, Gani, a man of rare courage, took up every Draculan policy of any government to the cleaners before the ink enacting it dries up. Like a wasp perched on the testis of a hammer armed carpenter, Gani stood his grounds and dared Abacha, when fleeing was order of the day. According to Adebayo Adefarati (former governor of Ondo State-Gani’s home town), “All I can add on Gani is to acknowledge his courage and sagacity in public affairs. If more Nigerians had Gani’s courage, Nigeria would have been the greater for it”
Adefarati’s admonition has not yielded fruit because members of the human right community have collapsed into NGO while running for foreign donors. A good number of them have abandoned ideology, taking up Special Assistant jobs from questionable politicians, who are yet to purge themselves of their anti-masses position during the military tyranny and the amok days of OBJ. These ex-comrades are now come and raid, forgetting that human right abuses are more rampant and worst under unwatched and unchallenged democratic governance.
The last time I read with joy the Episcopal letter from my god was when he attacked the forced leave to Kuru of the median EFCC chairman. News had it that he wrote from a sick bed in London. (Like all gods from Zeus, Jupiter through Anu to Amadioha, my god is not physically intimidating or always in robust health. But he has never allowed his heart ailment and hypertension slow him down) Ever since then, I have been thirsty for news about my god. Like Laban confronted Jacob in Genesis 31 vs. 30 “…yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?” I ask you, where is my god?
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Leaders As Creators
March 3, 2008 by OCI · Leave a Comment
How Leaders Create The Energy Essential To Success
Written By: Andy Cox
Leaders know high energy individuals, workgroups and organizations create success. How to create and sustain that high energy is the key challenge leaders face every day.
The following behaviors and beliefs are keys that leaders we have worked with have found work to achieve consistent high energy with their people.
Leaders start with the belief that commitment unleashes energy and that compliance reduces energy. To the extent that their people feel committed to the goals of the organization, they will work harder, produce more and accomplish more than any group of people waiting to be told what to do. Compliance keeps people waiting for direction - it keeps them asking ” What do you want me to do now?”
Leaders share knowledge and information, they don’t hoard it. They want their people to know how things are going. They believe 90% of their people can handle the truth, but that 100% of their people are turned off by half truths and secrecy. Leaders practice the exact opposite of the “if knowledge is power, than the sharing of knowledge is a reduction in power” behavior of high control managers.
Leaders work with their people to create goals that align with the organization’s goals. Then they keep the goals as simple as possible and work to have their people align their personal goals with the goals of the organization. And they fight to keep the goal process as simple and free of bureaucratic stuff as possible. They want goals to create energy, and not have process destroy it.
When leaders think they’ve communicated enough - they know they need to communicate more. Effective communication creates energy.
Leaders protect the time of their people. There are always distractions that can take the energy out of any endeavor. Leaders keep their people protected from the low value, time and energy eating things that invariably show up. Just as individuals need to keep their eye on the few important things, so must leaders keep their eye on the same few important things,
Leaders define what having “your eye on the ball ” means. The purpose of goals - solid, real goals focused on contribution and accomplishment - keep the main things the main things - and make it easier for everyone to be energized and focused.
Leaders know action creates energy - lack of action sucks the energy out of any enterprise. Ever been in a restaurant when it’s not busy? Bad time to be there - you might expect the best service and the best food, but it rarely works out that way. Come back when the place is really busy - and see a high level of service and energy and focus. Focused busy has a power all its own.
Leaders have high expectations of all their people - and they hold them to their expectations. Nothing is more demoralizing and sapping of energy than to have a manager indicate by words or actions that not much is expected. And guess what? When that belief is communicated - not much is accomplished. Nobody ever did anyone a favor by telling them to “take it easy.”
Leaders demand that their people know what their contribution to the enterprise is and how it is measured, and how they are doing. And not just at the annual performance review. Leaders hold performance reviews all the time.
Leaders know the more open and communicative their behavior, the more authority, power and energy they and their people have. High control managers, on the other hand, fail to see that, and hold as much power as possible to themselves, and in doing that, they actually cede power to others, and don’t tap the potential energy of their people.
Leaders protect the energy of their people from the negative 5 percent that show up - in even the best organizations. They protect them by taking swift action to either remediate the negative behavior, or, failing that, by getting rid of the negative 5 percenters. And not by simply palming them off on the next manager or leader.
Leaders incorporate these beliefs and behaviors into their every day work and play. They know that anything that requires constant special attention to keep going will fail. Only imbedded behaviors and beliefs have lasting value.
Review the behaviors and beliefs that leaders have shared in this article, and see where you can add to your impact and create more energy with your people - and the people around you. Do it through action - today.
Article Source: Afro Articles
About The Author: Andy Cox helps clients align their resources and design and implement change through the application of goals focused on the important few elements that have maximum impact in achieving success - as defined by the client. He can be reached at www.coxconsultgroup.com
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ABUSE
March 2, 2008 by Che Oyimnatumba · 3 Comments
Written By Che Oyinatumba.
Before the Amazon saddled and tamed the bronco called NAFDAC, the only drug I know that was abused, is volume 5 and 10. This drug was the companion of the rich who can not sleep for the poor are hungrily awake, plotting how to undue the rich man or where they can’t, main the master’s favourite goat.
Another drug I use too know that was abused is cocaine. Once one is referred to as drug user/abuser, my mind drifts to the rich man’s son, who schooled abroad and acquired the white man’s mannerism of constantly sniffing, hugging his chest, with darting eyes like a rat ready to pounce on a piece of funeral meat.
Dr. Dora Akunyili, came on board and broadened my understanding. The use of any drug, be it Vitamin C or paracetamol without certified medical prescription, is drug abuse. Suffice to say that, anything done improperly, or properly without consent of the recipient, is abuse, even if it is for the common good of all or the recipient. When is the tenure of Dr (Mrs.) Akunyili at NAFDAC due and expiring? Or is she in abuse of office?
Nigerians like a performing official and quick to build a personality cult around such, as depicted by “coming soon” soap opera being advertised in AIT. Most Nigerians have failed to understand that any drug, no matter potent it is, has an expiring date. A date beyond which its potency is of no effect and its continuous use is poisonous. In social circle, it is called point of diminishing returns or a plateau, where the brain runs in auto mode and can not generate fresh ideas to attack fresh problems. At this stage in a carpenter’s life, every problem is seen as a nail and solved with a hammer. Gradually, Dr. (Mrs.) Akunyili is degenerating as the Director General of NAFDAC and if nothing is done, her failure from the exalted height we hold her, will be a sore on the nose, used by the international community to ridicule the black race.
Her spiral dance to questionable efficiency was noticed during the campaign tours of Yar’Adua/Goodluck. She was obstructively visible and some of her fans excused it by blaming the highhandedness of OBJ, whom they reasoned must have “commandeered and threatened” all appointees and hangers-on, as was evident during the PDA convention to support Yar’Adua. Another faithful claimed that she was drafted to make sure that the cold drug to be used by the PDP presidential hopeful-as he then was-was befitting and not the one produced at the request of omo nna, fit only for a donkey in the country of production.
After the emergence of Yar’Adua as president, one had thought that Dr. (Mrs.) Akunyili, will face the illegal drug marketers at Head Bridge Onitsha and the kingpins she alleged wanted to kill her. There are other issues to be addressed. The locally made Vitamin C tablets (chewable) are rough and despite having a NAFDAC approved number, tastes like chalk! Same applies to other across the counter drugs. The clamp on importation of certain drugs in the absence of a local industry to cater for the hunger induced medical condition of Nigerians, should be reviewed. The few industries, can not meet local demand, the comatose power supply under Yar’Adua’s government, makes mincemeat of this noble attempt. Through out November/December 2007, I could not find an infusion water-drip anywhere in Kubwa Abuja. Phone calls I made to other cities, confirmed the scarcity. This is ordinary sterilized water how much more other drugs?
Rather than tackle these problems, to our dismay, the strongman of Ibadan garrison, while facing trial at magistrate court Wuse Zone 6 Abuja threw up Dr. (Mrs.) Akunyili into the murky waters of PDP backstabbing. In an interview with journalists Alahaji Adedibu said “Having lost appointment as minister, she is going about abusing everybody…” Further more Adedibu reasserted that during the campaign tours that Dr. showered encomiums on him. One can dismiss this as the ranting of amala politics, but the resurfacing of Dr. Akunyili at the judicial abuse of Nigerians on Tuesday 26th February 2008 gave me a reason to worry. Wistfully, an observer asked if Dora has come to support Buhari (Whom it is believed recommended her for the job), or Yar’Adua, who wants to reshuffle his cabinet once the tribunal gives him a reprieve. Another opined that she came to stop the jurist from abusing the faith Nigerians have reposed in then.
Nobody denies that this great woman has done well, but any dance who fails to leave when the applause is loudest, is doomed to be booed out. There are others in NAFDAC, who can push this Akunyili’s success story a step further. If she is interested in Politics and if her tenure has “expired”, let the Senate or whatever body responsible for her acceptance of her resignation letter/removal step up and perform its duty. Until Nigerians see that governance cum service to our fatherland, is slavery determined by constitutional, Civil service rotation based on competence, age on the job and not godfatherism, the younger generation will be worst than this generation. A firm example should be shown that once you have expired your constitutionally allotted time to do your best for the good of all; you are elevated to senior citizenship to allow others contribute their quota. Some thought Nigeria would have collapsed if the constitution was not adulterated to contain third term, but here we are, celebrating the dismantling of the criminal dispossession of Nigerian heritage under “due process”
It will be recalled that as a build up to the fever pitch Tuesday, the lower tribunals have been dismantling the fraud by Iwu’s infamous INEC. As prelude to the Supper Tuesday, David Mark, the senate president, was unmarked by Abubakar Usman (young Alahaji). All Nigerians were ready for a landmark judgment. But the Court of Appeal ruled as though they are not Nigerians and illogically affirmed rigging.
Mark you, the David Mark election that was unmarked, was conducted on the same day that Yar’Adua’s sElection was done, same time, same returning office, and same political party. Could PDP have rigged in Mark in tow LGAs and fail to deliver a PDP presidential candidate?
The tribunal has given the sort after temporary reprieve as the battle ground shifts to Supreme Court but the PDP convention at the door step, is giving the presidency a nightmarish dream of Chairman Mao while in China.
The needful cabinet reshuffle may be a donkey years away. Apart from the ambition of those who showed crocodile support at the tribunal, there is need to drop some of the baggage this administration of strange bedfellows. What is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) doing in tourism industry? What is a distinguished SAN, who served as Attorney General of a state for 8 years doing as a junior minister in the comatose power sector? This is grouse abuse of the silk.
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