Nigerian Journalism : Thisday Newspaper, Tinubu, Fashola, and the Chagoury Tango.

The news that Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu the predecessor to Governor Fashola of Lagos State was hosted in Beirut by the cronies of late Gen. Sani Abacha, made front page in Thisday Newspaper after Thisday hosted her annual musical festival in Abuja. The report has it that using Hitech limited, the Chagoury are in control of over 60% of the total infrastructural development contracts in Lagos.

Since this news broke, the Lagos State government using The Nation Newspaper believed to be owned by Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu have engaged Thisday. It got to a ludicrous head when the Lagos State Governor returned the award given to him in February as the best Governor 2008 in infrastructural development.  Imo State Governor, Ikedi Ohakim also got the best governor in the environmental category. When these awards hit the airwave, my reaction was “why give 2008 award in the beginning of 2008?” More also why should a media house that ought to be a watch dog and an  Oliver Twist, be giving an award to governors whose elections as at that time were seriously challenged and the courts were yet to rule.

Arising from the bashing by Thisday’s negative report on Lagos State, the Lagos State governor answered my query. Those awards are Greek gift given to solicit adverts and other concessions from the recipients. This was evident with the deluge of state government adverts that flooded Thisday after the award.

Thisday newspaper is not the only Nigerian media outfit involved in this unethical reportage.  A newspaper led concurrently for three weeks with damning exposure of questionable award of pension by Gombe State House of Assembly to Governor Danjuma Goje. When adverts from Gombe State and friends of Gombe State started appearing in the pages of this newspaper and other newspapers, nothing was heard of the Goje pension saga.

This questionable journalism practice is also extended to corporate Nigeria. A GSM service provider gave tariff free lines to major columnists and editors. This Greek gift has ensured that this company does not get the truth about her reported. When any columnist or editor runs out of weekend cash, or money for staff salary, a not too favourable report is done, which is automatically followed by an advert or appearance on the cover of the weekend edition/centre page special report or pull out from the affected corporation or individual. This is how Nigerian media runs.

If not, why did Thisday report a story they have had in their shelf during the award ceremony, only to release it when they were denied right to host this year’s Thisday Music Festival in Lagos? The previous year’s was hosted in Lekki Lagos state.

Though this style of reporting common in Nigerian media is a shame, the issues raised by Thisday have not been addressed by Lagos State government. Was Hitech responsible for the Ijegun fire disaster? Has she and Lagos State government paid compensation to the family of those who lost their lives due to the negligence of Hitech?

Instead of following these leads and investigate the activities of the Chagoury during Abacha’s maximum dictatorship, another Nigerian newspaper has joined the fray. Nation Life in her Saturday August 16^th 2008 Edition in page 52 took an upper cut at Thisday publisher Mr. Nduka Obaigbena. This week’s report is part (2) of what must have started last week. The rider reads How Thisday Publisher got into trouble in South Africa. To show the cowardice of the paper, the by-line of the story is merely by Our Reporter. This alleged incident happening in 2004. The report went ahead to claim that the publisher of Thisday has gone to “beg” Mr. Albert, (Gilbert) the head of the Chagoury family. With a graphic description of the conversation, one would have expected Nation Life to reveal the name of Bank’s MD that made the visit with Mr. Nduka and the serial number of the N20 milion cheque that was bounced. In case the publishers of Nation Life do not know, giving a dud cheque is a financial crime worthy of EFCC intervention.

In other climes, media expositions of crimes have led to the collapse of multi-national corporations and the resignation of government officials. But the Nigerian journalist, for a port of cold portage throws objectivity to the winds and sees no need for adequate investigative journalism.    

  The Abacha Henchmen Chagourys Take Over Lagos story of Thisday, was signed off  thus “ This article is the first in Thisday series on state governments” Nigerians are sceptically waiting for the expose on other governors, provided they are also those that have been giving Thisday centre spread adverts.

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RE: University Degree and HND disparity in Nigeria Civil Service

SOS TO THE PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ALHAJI UMARU MUSA YAR’ADUA

This is to appeal to the President and Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria , Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to use his good office to implement the much publicized, recently concluded removal of the existing dichotomy in the conditions of appointments/service of the holders of first degree and HND.

It is a thing of regret that two years after the Federal Executive Council’s recommendation of the removal of the undue dichotomy and ceiling on the Salary Grade Level/Rank attainable by Higher National Diploma holders in the Civil Service (ref: Government White Paper on the Report of the Presidential Committee on the Consolidation of Emoluments in the Public Sector, Chapter 6 Section 6.2 of December 2006 pages31/32 ), the implementation strategies and time fixed at “medium term” are yet to materialize till the present moment.

In a nation where people’s aspirations are directed at serving the fatherland with love, strength, faith, heart and might; calling for leaders to be guided right, helping our youth to know the truth; growing in love and honesty , living in just and truth and building a nation where peace and justice reign and where democracy equally guarantees continuity in governance. One begins to wonder whether all the afore-mentioned aspirations as expressed in the national anthem are mere rhetoric rather than virtues to live by. In the Civil Service,’ Servicom’ was launched to enhance efficiency and right service to the clients. Is it not high time that the same level of efficiency and right service manifested in the public service and similar national executive bodies?

Your Excellency Sir, many technical cadre civil servants(HND holders) attained salary grade level 14 step11( the former ceiling for that level) over 10years ago, officers(Degree holders) on level 10 at that time are right now on levels 15 or 16. Affected officers are annually being exempted from promotion interviews to level 15 even though the Federal Executive Council has accepted the recommendation of the removal of the ceiling since 2004. Paragraph one of page 5 of the quoted white paper states that, ‘On 11th June, 2006, the President set up the White Paper Drafting Committee on the Consolidation of Emolument in the Public Sector, to among others , work out a White Paper or better still, detailed programme of implementation of the accepted parts of the Report so as to ensure that substantial implementation begins in 2007 along with substantial implementation of Public Service Reforms and Right Sizing’. A lot of public service reforms including disengagement from service(right sizing) had been implemented whereas the issue of the removal of ceiling placed on HND holders also covered by the same White Paper still remains a no-go area. Is this not a perversion of justice and fairplay?

It is disheartening to state that the HND holders are still being statutorily and financially dehumanized as follow:

1. The period of study to attain HND is a minimum of five years ( 2yrs for OND, 1Yr of Post OND-Internship and 2Yrs for HND) while some of the first degree programmes require only 4Yrs for Courses in Education, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences , Arts etc. It is a fact to recognize that most Polytechnic students meet the minimum entry qualifications for University admission before choosing a career in the Polytechnic.

2. The point of entry into the Civil Service is Salary Grade Level 08 for holders of both qualifications. They undeniably assume the same responsibilities

3. It is a national shame to see some Nigeria Universities quoting the HND as one of the acceptable Entry Qualifications (into Part One of First Degree Programmes) while at the same time same or some others accept the same qualification (with PGD) for their masters programmes. (the NUC needs to revisit this issue). This waste of human resources and retardation of the national technological advancement need to be arrested forthwith. Some universities need to be aware that tertary institutions abroad afford HND holders from this country admission for post-graduate studies without any discrimination.

4. Technical Cadre staff on the so-called ceiling are being paid same salary (i.e. GL 14/11) year-in, year-out, without any annual increment even if they have to stagnate there till retirement decades after and nobody seems to care. More embarrassingly these officers are being paid the same Duty Tour Allowance of N8,500 with their sub-ordinate officers on salary grade level 07. Where are the so called incentives to enhance staff efficiency and productivity? What are the prospects for tertiary Vocational Technical Institutions in Nigeria ? Where is Nigeria ’s technological drive heading to? A lot of Physical structures are presently rotting away in Polytechnics for lack of students while those of Universities are being over-stretched. Some Departments in the Polytechnics are either without Students or their lecturers outnumber the students’ population. Is this country not loosing her focus on Technological Education? This country has to borrow a leaf from a country like Japan whose philosophy and objective of education is, ‘aggressive survival technology and effective use of adapted technology’.

Right now some Federal Ministries and Parastatals are gathering data for the next promotion exercise but the technical cadres on SGL 14 are completely excluded for the reason that the afore-mentioned white paper does carry with it ‘any directive’ to implement. What other directive is required, going by the Pages 5, 31 and 32 of the quoted White Paper?

Your Excellency, Mr. President, I wish to appeal once again that you use your enviable, and honourable office to save the affected officers the psychological trauma of the predicament they find themselves.

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Long live Mr. President.

Salawu, Isiaka Adebayo

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100 Million Naira Bribe Allegation Eclipses Power Probe

The greatest cardinal point of the Yar’Adua’s seven points agenda is energy epitomised by the power sector. The electricity situation in Nigeria has been held to produce beyond the desired capacity to turn the wheels of the rusty industrial machines. The prices of finished products have been heaped at the threshold of the cost of producing using generators.

Against this backdrop, Nigerians were agog when the lower chamber of National House of Assembly, set up a probe panel headed by Hon. Ndudi Elumelu to investigate the eclipse in the Nigerian Power sector. After much revelation into the rot in the sector, the House Committee after touring the various power plant sites closed public sitting, to garnish their finding before tabling it before the House of Representative for deliberation.

Two months after, nothing has been heard of the panel report, rather the nation is gripped with bush telegraphic reports that the members of the panel were compromised in one of their on the site inspection in Port Harcourt, where each member was believed to have received N 100 million Naira.

Following this development, the House has suspended the Probe Panel report till the Ethics Committee can investigate this allegation. According to the Chairman House Committee on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eziuche Ubani it would be suicidal to deliberate on the content of the Probe Panel report, when the allegation of bribery against the members of the Probe Panel has not been cleared.

Earlier, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Dimeji Bankole had in a statement announced that the House cannot be rushed into taking any action by any governmental agency on the Probe Panel report till the House have taken the requisite procedures. The Speaker’s statement was targeted at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who is believed to be in possession of a leaked content of the Probe Panel report.

Meanwhile the government has released billions of Naira into the power sector to guarantee power supply. We cannot but ask: Whichway Nigeria? The money sunk into this white elephant project has not been accounted for, or have those entrusted with finding out what went wrong given a verdict/recommendation(s) yet the government is ploughing more money into the sector.

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Letter to a Nigerian Militant

My Dear Militant, the major security problem that is shaking Nigerian Nation today,is the series of Nigerians and foreign oil workers that you kidnap daily as well as the series of attacks on oil facilities by you, Militant of the Niger Delta.

I guess that you must be feeling quite happy these days with so many people all over the world trying to find out why you took to Arms struggle. The World is asking why you chose to be Militant. Is it poor family background, is it economic hardship or political motivation or you just want to be called ‘Hardman’.

Some say you are fighting for a greater share of our region’s oil wealth which may have largely bypass you and ended up in the pockets of Corrupt Politicians. However, we can see that what may have been a political motivated protest has degenerated into extortion and crime. Read more

Nigeria, A Paradox?

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. Read more

Orji Uzor Kalu on Yar’Adua’s 12 months on the saddle

Sir,

I read your leadership series of 5th July 2008 with a tablespoon full of salt.

This is predicated on my last encounter with you after your “Fidel or infidel” which I considered and still consider an unfair assessment of El-Comandante and the achievements he has made in Cuba in the face of relentless United States unwarranted assault.

I am forced to write you again, after reading your most recent article on Yar’Adua’s 12 months in office. Each time I am chanced to read your leadership series, I crave for insightful information but you always disappoint me.

As a governor of a volatile state like Abia, with ndi Ngwa and old Bende division att dagger’s drawn, one had expected you write about the intricacies of governance. The younger generation wants to know how a master strategist was able to rule and survive the 8 years of cold war with the maximum ruler of Nigeria. They also want to read and learn how to handle renegade deputies, of which you are not in want of experience to share. Generations younger than yours, wants to know how you pulled out the coup that installed Theodore Oji, who was in EFCC detention at the time of election.

These expectations have not been met, rather you write like a journalist and a sensational columnist in desperate need to butt in on all national issues.

Wisdom in deed is like a goat skin bag and everyone carries his own. With this ageless African adage, I will restrict my reaction to national issues you raised and let your personal opinion be yours, for I may disagree with what you said but I am bound to respect your right to say so.

According to your article, “Yar’Adua is a firm and no nonsense person..” A good look at Mr. President, shows that he is a fair weather president, a man who does not think deep about his actions before making it official and open. The most recent, is the Niger Delta Gambari saga. Hasn’t the president over ruled himself? Why heat up the already volatile Niger Delta with a choice the people are against? He kept mute and allowed all manner of feathers to be ruffled before he capitulated. At the dawn of his ascension, the announcement of Acting Inspector General of Police and the following reversal does not show Yar’Adua as a firm person. He is more like a man who stirs the pond and pitch his tent where popular opinion is, so as to come across as a listening president. This unassertiveness will not be long before the fifth columnists in his government will hijack him.

Your article also said that “He has surprised everybody by the way and manner he has run his administration”. Sir, any good student of political psychology won’t be surprised. Mr. President from the legendry Yar’Adua family, is playing true to type. What role did his brother play in 1976-79? Shadowy. Hungry for power but afraid to stand out. His younger brother is playing same, only that he has taken it to a greater art. Mrs. President does the daily running around and is the most conspicuous face of this administration. The president, runs Nigeria on an Auto-pilot. Each day will resolve its crisis. Like Abacha, Mr. President has landlocked himself in Aso Rock with minimal visit to the states of the federation. Mr. President has visited more foreign countries than the states in Nigeria. Is this a style of leadership to be proud of?

A leader who goes abroad to wash her dirty boxers. At the just concluded G8 meeting, Yar’Adua opened up that it is a cartel of buyer of stolen crude oil that is behind the Niger Delta crises. If it is true, what has Mr. President done about the porous boarders of Nigeria? An oil sea faring tanker is not too tiny that it cannot be sported by the Nigerian Navy, yet the Navy high command has not been reprimanded. Has there been any structural and administrative change in the Nigerian Navy or Customs? The guns floating in the creeks of the Niger Delta are not manufactured in Nigeria. They are imported in containers, some duly cleared, while others are smuggled into the country via a well known smugglers route. Yar’Adua’s administrative style is suspect rather than surprising.

Now to the burning issue. Niger Delta. Your submission is that “the present upheaval in the region is not totally the fault of Yar’Adua. It was there long before he came”. Let me ask, which problem was Yar’Adua’s? According to Lucky Dube, “people have problems since the Pope was an altar-boy”. Same applies to Nigeria. It is these problems and their resolution that we go to the polls every four years to elect (forget about Maurice Iwu’s 2007 wuruwuru), leaders who will shepherd us to the Promised Land, where these problems will be minimal. Yar’Adua when he was being led like a dog to an Akwa Ibom man’s kitchen by Obasanjo, was telling those who cared to listen that he will solve the Niger Delta problems, declare state of emergency on the power sector. 12 months after, what do we have? Over militarization of the Niger Delta with casualty rate higher than what it was under Abacha and the Odi massacre.

The problem with Nigeria leadership class is that most of its members are not qualified to be there. Did Yar’Adua indicate interest? Was he not forced on all of us? Even some of you who vigorously campaigned, where shoved aside for a man who has no understanding of the magnitude of the multi-facet Nigerian problems.All the quasi qualification of Nigeria leadership class is money to bribe the conscience of the electorate. Where this money fails, they resort to violence as is being unearthed in Rivers State Truth and Reconciliation Commission. These political leaders, never wanted to be leaders.

After amassing wealth, they believe that the next frontier to be conquered, is the political front and become his Excellence or Honourable this and that. If you read their biographies deeply a common trend runs through ie I never wanted to contest but my friends said why not go into politics. Some even go to the absurd by telling us that its their pastors who saw a vision that they should contest election. Haba African man. Leaders or aspiring political leaders should study, think of nothing but the problems of the constituency he craves to rule. Nelson Mandela took 27 years of his imprisonment to dream out the solution to a post apartheid South Africa. (What do we have in Nigeria? Leaders go to prison and come out with books on Women in the Bible, while others shed tears like babies.)

This way, once the mantle of leadership falls on him, he will not require one year to start consulting about the solutions to the problems of his people. Young Obama is mesmerizing the world because of his ideas and understanding of the problems of common Americans who want change. Obama’s war chest is contributions from people who believe in his solutions to America’s Republican battered image and failed economy. Would a Obama (Pat Utomi and his gang of vibrant Nigerians) survive intra-party garrison arm twisting in Nigeria not to talk of being on the national platform? Wouldn’t he be forced to float a political party that may never rise beyond a cultural association or a social club? Until we get it right that leadership is a passion and life long vocation, every four years, we will lose two years for the new government to settle down before addressing the lingering issues.

By the time you say Jack, they are campaigning for re-election to complete the good works (sic) they have started and the bold ones will ask for tenure elongation.

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