The MDGs: Can President Yar’Adua really deliver?

I am often saddened by the leadership situation I see in Nigeria and also pained for the situation that sometimes, the populations are placed in because of errors of leaders. Often, I reflect over these in my moments of silence but cannot help to keeping seeking for solution. The coming of Musa Yar’Adua, after an Olusegun Obasanjo was with a lot of mixed feelings based on how he emerged and the unfolding befuddling scenario since then.                                                                                                                                                                                                              

In the course of thinking about Nigeria and its peculiar kind of leaders, I had asked my friend Moses, the question; “Can Yar’Adua really deliver?”…….. , but he was swift to reply that ‘’…It is not possible because a python must definitely procreate a python, and not a rabbit, even if it swallows or eats a rabbit every month.

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Yar’Adua Drops Ministers.

Nothing gladdened my heart this morning than the news  that Charles Ugwu and Modibbo have been relinquished of their ministerial positions. If you will recall, I have opined that among other ministers, these two must be shown the exit door to Abuja. My grouse with Modibbo is not because he lost against Goje his state governor, but how will you explain the religious zeal with which the ex-minister undertook the building of 60 Billion Naira Boulevard when the Abuja/Kaduna Express way especially the Kubwa- Galadinma stretch is a nightmare? He could not even sustain the beauty of FCT el-Rufai achieved with sweat and blood of power Nigerians who died while trying to perfect their Cof O The cigarette smokers in FCT can puff a bit as Modibbo goes to Gombe to revive his 2011 gubernatorial ambition if Goje will allow him.

For Charles Ugwu I can not say much than his removal has shown the leadership sense of the administrators of CAC. In the September Edition of CAC News Magazine, this minister who supported third term was celebrated. It is now obvious that he was made minister to recoup the money he invested in the quest to steal Senator Ararume’s PDP mandate in Imo State.

Others who were dropped largely due to unproductively and shallow understanding of what it takes to run Nigeria are; Adamu Maina Waziri, Minister of State Agric (Yobe); Tijani Yahaya Kaura Ibrahim Dasuki Nakande, Minister of State Information and Communications (Plateau); Alhaji Haruna Hassan, Minister of State Interior (Jigawa); Sarafa Tunji Isola, Minister of Solid Minerals (Ogun); Ahmed Mohammed Gusau, Min. Of State Solid MineraL (Zamfara); Felix Hyatt, Min. of State Aviation (Kaduna); Emmanuel Olatunde Odusina, Minister of Energy Gas (Ekiti); Halima Tayo Alao, Housing and Environment (Kwara); John James Akpanudoedehe, Minister of State FCT (Akwa Ibom);  John Okechukwu Emeka, Minister of State Transportation (Ports) (Enugu); Saudatu Usman Bungudu – Women Affairs; Mohammed Sanusi Daggash, Min. National Planning (Borno);  Abdulrahman Hassan Gimba, Sports (Niger). Ahmed Garba Bichi, Minister of State, Commerce (Kano);  Igwe Aja-Nwachukwu, Minister of Education (Ebonyi); Jerry Anthony Agada, Minister of State Education (Benue); Fatima Balaraba Ibrahim, Minister of State (Kaduna);

 

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Yar’Adua:cultism takes over leadership in Aso Rock

Finally the rudderless governance of President Yar’Adua showed another sign of leadership imbecility on Tuesday when a group of presidential aids were forced to take oath of secrecy. The reason behind this oath is not known as is characteristic of this administration, journalists and Nigerians have been kept in the dark and speculations saturate the air.

The reason WWN was able to gather is the numerous apt information that have been finding their ways into the pages of Nigerian Newspapers, which the papers confirm that it is from reliable source in the Villa. Another reason we learnt, is the embarrassing pictures of the son of Mr. President circulating wildly on the internet. The picture has young Umar Yara’Adua brandishing AK 47 and in another pix, they young man of high school age, was carelessly playing with wads of 1000 naira notes. 1000 is the highest denomination in the arsenal of Nigeria’s Central Bank.

The most current of all the reasons is the point blank accuracy with which reports about the truth about the lesser Hajj was broken, when it was only a few inner members of the presidential staff knew that the sick president did not go to seek the face of Allah but mortal doctors who flew in from Germany.  To freeze this, the presidency took an unconstitutional means and forced civil servants to take oath unknown to the constitution. This is nothing but cultism and should be addressed as such.

Oath taking is not new in Nigerian politics. But the most freshly remembered in the post military democratic Nigeria, is the Ngige-Chris Uba saga in Anambra State. Ngige hungry for power, entered into a pact with the money bag Chris Uba and to seal the oath of allegiance the duo had to visit Okija Shrine.

This bizarre political behaviour of Nigeria’s ruling class has gotten a presidential blessing and Nigeria being a copy cat federation, we will see other state governors toeing this ignoble line of administration.

Haba Whichway Nigeria? When other nations pride themselves on openness and accessibility, Nigerian leadership is walking backwards to the dark days of feudal lords where Kabiesi

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3.2

Sick Yar’Adua Fails To Return Today

In apparent bid to put a spade to the circulation about the health of Mr. President, the Federal Government speaking through unnamed sources quoted by the Nigerian media, informed anxious Nigerians that President Yar’Adua who went on lesser Hajj is as fit as a fiddle and will return today to pick up the “ruins” of Nigerian leadership where he left it two weeks ago. At close of work today, Mr. Yar’Adua was nowhere to be found nor did any iron bird vomit him at the presidential wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja.

This lingering uncertainty about the whereabout of Mr. President has added fuel to the report by the Punch Newspaper of Saturday 30^th August that he underwent surgery in a Saudi hospital and may not be back in Nigeria soon as the German doctors advice against speedy resumption of duty.

But sources in the presidency especially Olusegun Adeniyi, Special Assistance to the president on media and communication, a top member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), denies that Mr. President is sick.

Another informed source counters Adeniyi, John Odey (minister of information) position, claiming that indeed Mr. President is terminally sick and his failure to return today was based not on scientific examination but on the divination of a female marabout Mr. President has been consulting in Saudi Arabia.

The half truth by the presidency is not doing the country well, as government is grounded and this cat and mouse game is making Nigeria a laughing stock. The presidency should come out with a detailed report of the health condition of Mr. President and spare Nigerians the shame of not knowing where their number one citizen is.

Nigerians never expected a superman to rule them but a leader should be honest enough to bare his limitations to his followers.

When Mr. President declared his assets, Nigerian thought an honest Daniel has mounted the throne but the manner the true condition of his health is being whispered without official presidential seal, is showing that there is no difference between Yar’Adua and other power hungry looters of Nigeria.  

It is these power hungry looters that are egging Mr. President on, in order to frustrate Section 144 of the 1999 Constitution. All those opposition parties clamoring for Interim Government, this is the opportunity to demand that the Subsections of Section 144 be complied with.

 

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Yar’Adua’s Health Hullabaloo: The Untold Theories

That Mr. President is human and afflicted with human weakness is not news. The President himself was half honest during his one year anniversary interview on national television on May 29^th 2008, wherein he expressed thanks to Nigerians over their worry about his health condition. His spin doctors interpreted Nigerians anxiety to mean love for Mr. President.

Last week, barely 3 months after, Nigerians had cause to be anxious again about the health condition of Mr. President. Mr. President disappeared between Saudi Arabia and Brazil. This time, the spin doctors have been caught bra up, pant down and the only feeble excuse they can give is that His Excellence has gone on a lesser Hajj (Umrah) to pray for divine intervention in solving Nigeria’s problems, but couldn’t explain what conditions that have developed that stopped him from transiting to Brazil to open the newly built Nigerian House in Perlourinho Bahia.

Few months ago, the Vice President Mr. Goodluck Jonathan had course to seek the Pope’s intervention in Nigerian affairs. The visit was shown on national television at prime time. It is routine that Nigerians on hajj are shown on TV. Why hasn’t any even government media, shown the image of President Yar’Adua performing the lesser hajji? If not for the propaganda effect, such clip will fasten the faith of the faithful to seek redress by praying to God, since the first citizen of the country has gone penitently to God in fasting and prayers. The loquacious Ojo Maduekwe the Foreign Affairs Minister, the amiable Special Assistance on Media/Communication, Mr. Segun Adeniyi, have been criminally silent over the where about of Mr. President, adding fuel to the speculation that Mr. President is terminally ill. Forget the belated article “Between the President and the First lady” written by Adeniyi and circulated in all the media houses. Having read Adeniyi in his days as a caustic columnist (Verdict) with Thisday Newspaper, it is a shame that he stoop to defend the First Lady instead of Mr. President. One cannot help but wonder if he is Madam President’s SA.

The untold reason why the President’s health is being masqueraded is Sections 144-146 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and its consequent effect on the Niger Delta, the North-South dichotomy of PDP power shift arrangement. In summary, should Mr. President be found unfit to continue in office, the VP takes over and complete the residue of Mr. President’s tenure. Nigeria being what it is, where no incumbent has lost an election, the fear in some quarters is that the South-South will become president by default. Did I hear you say there is twice Luck in Goodluck? This explains why each time Mr. President goes on AWOL (Absence Without Leave), Mr. VP is kept in the dark. If this conspiracy theory is farfetched, who could have opened Nigeria’s house in Brazil a Minister of Culture or the Vice President?

Another theory about the “I must go abroad for treatment” is hinged on Subsection (5) of Section 144 Supra. The president’s loyalists are not sure of resolution of the “executive council” will be favourable. The executive council for the purpose of Section 144 is infested with many political foes of Mr. President, even those of the PDP, after all a man’s greatest enemy are members of his household. To prevent the “enemies” who lost out at the arm-wrestling at Eagle Square, from having the last laugh, the frequent abroad visits must be coated with religion if need be.

Of all the theories making rounds, the political solution with active judicial participation is the one I find most ingenious. The craftsmen of the 1999 Constitution despite panel beating everything to protect Abacha, couldn’t have dreamt up this. The theory is simple and it has been test ran in many states where the Court of Appeal ordered a bye-election. The Supreme Court that has adjourned sine die the hearing of Buhari/Atiku’s appeal is believed to fix a date for the hearing of the matter very soon if the health condition of Mr. President “persists” after 2 months. PDP pundit are theorizing that the apex court will nullify the election and call for a bye-election to create an Electoral Act 2006 lacuna that will allow the PDP to maintain the gentleman power shift arrangement and frustrate Goodluck’s luck.

The snag in this theory is not any chance of the rag tag opposition parties winning the envisaged bye-election but the character of Mr. President. (The opposition has never won any bye-election proceeding from judicial intervention in the INEC 2008 April “fraud”). Despite Umar’s calm demeanour, he is as stubborn as a bereaved donkey and would rather brace the odds than chicken out.

 For all we care, this writer may even die before the AIDS patient in National Hospital but it should be remembered that national assignment is not sentimental; a nation is as healthy as its president. The present president’s health condition is further slowing down the comatose administration. All promoted service chiefs have not being decorated with their new ranks; Mr. VP cannot attend to national issues that require an acting president. In the interest of Nigeria, President Umar Yar’Adua, should borrow a katana from Samurai, do a patriotic act and enter the annals of Nigerian history as a president who did not allow lust for ephemeral power ruin his chances of contributing to national development as an elder statesman.  

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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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