The Worst Nigerian Awards for Year 2015

by Eze Eluchie

As we continually ponder over why Nigeria, as an entity, continues to barely exist in the pitiable state (economically, politically, socially and otherwise) that we find ourselves, despite the limitless opportunities and potentials for greatness and meaningful contribution to humanity embedded in the country, it is important that those elements that have contributed to societal debasement and retrogression be identified, named and shamed with the dual hope that they will, on the one hand, thereafter reflect on their role in our collective sorrow and hopefully change their vile acts and mannerisms and on the other hand, acquaint the population in Nigeria about those who have contributed immensely to ‘why we are where we are whilst the rest of the world keeps on forging ahead’ and allow the people to decide what to do with such precursors of underdevelopment.

For this 3^rd Edition of the Worst of Nigeria Awards for Year 2016, there will, as in the previous year’s, be in 4 categories, to wit: The Worst Corporate Entity, The Worst Governor/State Agency, The Worst Federal Minister/Agency, and the grand prize, The Worst Nigerian. And the winners, on account of the anguish they have caused tthe Nigerian State and its citizens, they are actually sore losers, are as follows:

The Worst Corporate Entity:

When a corporate body rakes in millions of dollars in profits from a hapless population, manufacturing, distributing and disingenuously marketing a product that when used exactly as the corporate giant intends it to be used, will sicken, debilitate, destroy vital organs in the human body and ultimately kill not only the user of the corporate giants products but also others who have the misfortune of being around the users of such products, then such erring corporate giant has sunk low enough to merit the Award been accorded it here.

Some may be wondering whether such a company fitting the vile description above does actually exist and which product does nothing than harm its users when used as intended by the manufacturer.

Wonder no further, the winner of the year 2016 Worst Corporate Entity is British America Tobacco Plc.  The product in question is Cigarette!

The Worst Governor/State Agency.

In a contraption where most State Governors have unlawfully and criminally appropriated funds meant for the tier of government closest to the people, the Local Government Councils, to their personal use, in the process denying a vast majority of the population any meaningful benefits in almost two decades of supposedly democratic governance, it will take exceptional depravity, con and deviousness for any particular Governor to sink below his peers in their quest to dehumanize and vanquish the citizens over whom they administer.

By elevating fraud, doublespeak and trickery as cardinal principles of governance; implementing strident efforts at destroying the basic institutions (Town Development Unions) which citizens of his State had applied to cushion the effect of abandonment by government authorities; unconstitutionally and unlawfully deploying State Legislators as ‘caretakers’ of Local Government Councils in the State; claiming that the people of the State he is supposed to preside over are owing him a stupendous sum of over US$80 Million (for spurious ‘security votes’ which he claims to be entitled to); the Imo State Governor who has been christened ‘Ekwuo ozor, eme ozor’ (He who says something and does something else) by the people of Imo State, Mr. Rochas Okorocha, wins the Award in the category of ‘The Worst Governor/State Agency’.

The Worst Federal Minister/Federal Agency

Top contenders for this award included the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) which is superintending over the notorious scamming of Nigerian electricity consumers by power companies who shamelessly levy households and premises for electricity not supplied; the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which seems fixated with its role as a hound dog to target its investigative and prosecutorial powers over corruption cases on only persons perceived to be opposed to the regime in power to , and the Nigerian Military (particularly the Nigeria Army under the headship of present Chief of Army Staff, General Buratai) which seems unschooled on the role of the Military in quelling demonstration and generally interacting with the civil populace in a democratic dispensations – a situation that has led to the military killing several demonstrators (pro-Biafra activists in Onitsha {Anambra State, South East Nigeria}, Shi’ia demonstrators in Zaria {Kaduna State, North Central Nigeria}

In a polity where State agencies meant to serve the people are notoriously self-serving, nominations for this Award category are expectedly not lacking.

The Federal Ministers, who were appointed belatedly have exhibited shocking blandness, colorlessness and lack of creativity in their respective Ministries as one would have expected them to, in view of the lateness in their appointments, hit the ground running. The fact that seven months into an administration, none of its principal officers can be assessed tells the tale of where Nigeria is.

The Federal Agency whose incompetence, mismanagement and mishandling of its duties has caused more harm to Nigeria and Nigerians in year 2015 and which this wins the award in this category is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) – an agency  which somehow, despite its limitless finances, always finds a way to botch any and all elections it has conducted over the past one year, in the process short-changing the population and serving as a conduit to impose misfits as rulers over the Nigerian state, rises above the field of failed Federal Agencies.

The Worst Nigerian

The role of leadership in moving any society forward cannot be adequately quantified. With effective leadership, a third rate economy (or 3^rd world country – whatever you construe this to mean)) can be transformed over a very short period into a leading player in global affair. The converse is unfortunately, also true.

In Nigeria, we have for virtually all of year 2015 being denied any signs of effective leadership at the national level. For the first 4 months, the then President, Goodluck Jonathan was embroiled in very distractive and strenuous efforts at securing a re-elections, this was followed by a 5th month of wasteful transition processes and since May 29^th when the incumbent stepped into office, the country has virtually run on auto-pilot and “body-language of the President”), without any recognizable policy thrusts or directions of governance save for the worn out recourse to sloganeering and blaming all ills on the immediate past administration.   

In other climes desirous of progress, the Civil Society Organizations would have risen up to the occasion to ensure that political leaders (in Nigeria it is actually rulers in control) are held accountable and made to serve the people. From the labour Unions, to the National Association of Nigerian Students, the ‘human right organization’, good governance and pro-democracy organizations, entities who should serve as the eyes, ears and minds of a largely illiterate and population have sold out their constituents for lucre.  

In Nigeria, rather pitiably, the Civil Society sector has been sucked into the rot which permeates the system. Objectivity has given way to parochialism; the intellect inherent in Civil Society is pandered to the highest bidder for partisan and non-altruistic ends, in the process denying our population, country and indeed the African continent the benefits of a working Nigeria. Of particular mention here are the Civil Society organizations which ‘monitor’ and issue ‘accolades’ or ‘condemnation’ (in keeping with the desires of their foreign funders) over the fiasco we refer to as elections in our clime.

As a collective, for failing the people, the Worst Nigerian Award for Year 2016 goes to so-called “pro-democracy and good governance” Civil Society organizations.

Picture: The Worst of Nigeria Award Trophy

MTN Fine Imbroglio: A National Disgrace!

by Eze Eluchie

What we had hailed on this Page as a mark of seriousness on the path of the Nigerian Presidency, under the ‘saint’ Muhammadu Buhari regime, in addressing disregard by foreign corporations of domestic laws and norms in Nigeria is fast turning into a national embarrassment, an expensive mockery on Nigeria’s sovereignty and one more reason why we are where we are and the rest of the world keeps on forging ahead.

Why will Nigeria’s Minister of Communication trivialize and politicize the fine levied on MTN by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), for breaching regulatory provisions regarding registration of telephone numbers, by stating that final decision on whether the fine gets paid or not, lies at with the President, ‘saint’ Muhammadu Buhari?

Globally, such political interference in what is basically commercial decisions by regulatory commissions serve to diminish the stature of such regulatory commissions and portray the country concerned as a jurisdiction where the Head of Government is a 'strongman' and institutions and practices of State are at the whims of the political rulers.

Till date, MTN, despite the expiry of the time fixed to pay the fine, a cowardly bungling and 50% reduction of the fine by the NCC/’saint’ Buhari and the telecommunication giants continued failure to pay any part whatsoever of the fine imposed, MTN continues to do business in Nigeria as though nothing (and really nothing except for noise from the NCC) transpired.

Wither the once touted ‘giant of Africa’?

Earlier blogpost on the MTN Fine affair:

http://ezeluchie.blogspot.com.ng/2015/11/mtn-fine-appropriate-punishing-for.html

Picture: NCC Headquarter complex, Abuja, Nigeria.

Saudi Arabia-led Islamic Military Alliance To Fight Terrorism – A Diversionary Non-Starter!

by Eze Eluchie

Considering that Nigeria, like some of the West African countries mentioned as members of the 'alliance', is a secular State with a minority Muslim (or as is the case for some of the African countries purported to be part of the alliance, sizable non-Muslim) population;

And further considering that Islamic countries with majority Shi’ia sect members (Iran and Iraq) and Syria were excluded from the so-called Saudi Arabia-led Islamic Military Alliance;

And also considering that the announcement of Nigeria’s membership of the Sunni Muslim (Saudi Arabia)-led Islamic Military Alliance was made a day after Nigerian soldiers slaughtered dozens of Shi’ia Muslim adherents in Zaria, Kaduna State, northern Nigeria:

And ultimately considering the opaque and largely non-committal stance of the Saudis, thus far, in efforts at curtailing extremist Islamic terror;

Would Christian or Muslims of the Shi’ia sect or persons of other faiths (not Islamic), serving in the Nigeria military (or the military of the other 34-countries purported to be part of the alliance), be expected to participate in this Saudi Arabia-led Islamic Military Alliance?

Would such a refusal to be deployed or serve under such a Saudi Arabia-led Islamic Military Alliance amount to conscientious objection to serve?

Would the Nigerian National Assembly or other legislators of other secular states or states with substantial non-Muslim populations really serve under such Saudi Arabia-led Islamic Military Alliance?

The pertinent question in the face of realities and the solo-announcement of the alliance by just the Saudi Foreign Minister (without any of the coalition partners present) is: was the Saudi announcement of an ‘Islamic anti-terror Military Alliance/Coalition genuine or merely diversionary?  

The idea of a Saudi Arabia-led Islamic Military Alliance is a diversionary non-starter from the very onset!

Picture: Saudi Deputy Crown Price and Defence Minister, Mohammed bin Salman, who announced the ‘alliance’.

The Slaughter of the Shi'a by Nigerian troops: Opening Fresh Vistas of Violence

by Eze Eluchie

Having perused the accounts of the authorities of the Nigerian Army on the slaughter of Shi’a Muslim followers of Sheikh Zakzaky in Zaria, Kaduna State (North Central Nigeria), which sought to justify the use of life bullets and mass slaughter of several dozen Shi’a protesters who blocked a road, denying the Chief of Army Staff passage, one is forced to wonder if there was no other alternative resolution to the impasse created by the blockage than to kill and maim so many.  

When one realizes that during the electioneering campaigns preceding the last presidential elections, the convoy of the then sitting President, Goodluck Jonathan, which had much more fire power and reason to unleash lethal force on a mob after been pelted with stones by an enraged mob, opted to hastily seek alternative routes to avoid what would have been a massacre in Bauchi, one is forced to inquire as follows with regards to the carnage which played out in Zaria:

1. What was so important on that particular trip by the Chief of Army Staff as to necessitate the wastage and maiming of so many?

2. Faced with clear consequences of shooting into an unruly mob, why did the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff not either turn back, seek alternative routes or solution than to resort to the mass slaughter?

3. After having cleared the road to enable the Chief of Army Staff ‘safe passage’, was it also necessary to extend the pursuit of the fleeing Shi’a to the residence of their leader, where more causalities occurred?

4. Considering that the rise in Boko Haram terrorism is attributed to the killings by our security operatives of the erstwhile leaders of the then Boko Haram Islamic organization, was it wise to have gone on another killing spree when Nigeria is still striving to contain the consequences of earlier killings?  

5. Was it deemed conducive to kill so many Shi’a merely on account of the fact that they are a minority Islamic sect?

6. Would a similar action have been taken if those ‘blocking the safe passage’ had been members of the Sunni sect, the dominant sect amongst the Muslim population in Nigeria?

7. Will the killings in of Shi’a adherents in Zaria by our military authorities not unwittingly expose our already stretched facilities by unwittingly importing the fratricidal Shi’a-Sunni rivalry, currently playing out in the Middle East, into Nigeria?

8. Considering the continuing terror activities in the North-East zone, the threats to return to the creeks and violence of the Niger Delta militants, the ongoing quest for self-actualization and sovereignty in the South-East, and the wait-and-see attitude adopted by the South-West to committing to the Nigeria project, is it really wise for the military to open a new vista of discontent?

To the Nigerian Army, these killings were unlawful, unconscionable, unnecessarily provocative  and wrong. Caution, caution and more caution is advocated.

Let us peacefully restructure and renegotiate the Nigerian polity whilst there is yet time.

Picture: Corpses of some Shi’a followers of Sheikh el Zakzaky killed in Zaria (13th December 2015). 

Killings of Biafra Activists: Restructure and Renegotiate Nigeria Now!

by Eze Eluchie,

Today, 16,764 days after the ‘official’ end of the Biafran genocide on the 15^th of January 1970, the very first person of Igbo nationality to be killed by bullets of Nigeria Government security forces in the quest for a renegotiation and restructuring of the Nigerian contraption and the actualization of Biafra, 20 year old Miss. Anthonia Nkirika Ikeanyionwu, will be laid to rest today at Amaolu, Adazi Unukwu in Anambra State.

Several others were killed and others maimed by bullets, alongside Miss Ikeanyionwu, in a vicious crack down by security operatives on peaceful demonstrators in Onitsha, Anambra State (within the territtory of the erstwhile Republic of Biafra) on 2^nd December 2015.

Over 2 million Igbos had been killed during the Biafran genocide which occurred in the course of the Nigeria-Biafra civil war from  6th July 1967 to 15th January 1970.

The well publicized comments by Nigeria’s current ruler and former dictator, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari, to met out unequal and unfair treatment to peoples who gave him ‘5% votes’ during the last presidential elections (a category to which the Igbo nation belongs), has further exacerbated tension along ethnic lines.

May we not repeat the mistakes of times past.

Let us peacefully restructure and renegotiate the Nigeria contraption whilst we can.

Video of one of several atrocities committed by Nigeria troops during the Biafra genocide:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb7Z_7AiGr8

Nigeria President, Muhammadu Buhari’s resolve to unfairly treat areas of Nigeria which gave him ‘5% votes’ during his (s)election.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYUBTU2ZgFY

Picture: Obituary announcement/Burial program for the late Miss. Anthonia Nkiruka Ikeanyionwu:

When Rulers Get Summoned.

by Eze Eluchie

Why do some of these African rulers do these things to themselves and the territories they supposedly represent?

There certainly are some leaders in Africa who will never condescend to the imagery and reality depicted in the picture below. 

A couple of African rulers (not leaders) seated like naughty school kids being drilled by the Head-teacher, Ban ki Moon – does Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari (Nigeria), John Mahama (Ghana) and their ilk, soberly seated before Mr. Moon, realize that the UN Secretary General is a public servant whose salary and upkeep comes from the contributions of UN-member States, including the African countries?

Most probably, from this session with the UN Scribe, the rulers will take off en-mass to respond to a summons from the Heads of Governments of Brazil, Australia or wheresoever. Mass summons previously honoured with alacrity by African rulers have included invites from the US, France, Britain, India and China.

In all these foreign trips of highly doubtful benefits to the home territories of these rulers, one direct benefit to the globetrotters who often travel in state-of –the-art private jets, is that they never forget to purchase a couple of choice real estates in the countries they visit whilst ceaselessly complaining about their handicap in being unable to harness the rich potentials over which they preside.

The people have to take their destinies in their own hands if they ever want to see the light of day.

Picture: Some African rulers being drilled by UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon.

Needed to End ISIS: Regime Change in Turkey!

by Eze Eluchie

The world is gradually waking up to the reality of the connections between Turkey President, Tayyip Recep  Erdogan and ISIS.

By his shoot-down of the Russian fighter jet, Turkish President Erdogan had deliberately tried to pitch NATO in direct confrontation with Russia and thereby destroy the growing coalition of humanity to destroy ISIS which was evolving after the dastardly twin attacks on Russian passenger plane and the mass attacks on Paris soon thereafter.

From his antics during the ISIS onslaught on Kobani, to his relentless attacks on the Kurdish Peshmerga forces anytime the Kurds were in the offensive against ISIS, to serving as major conduits for sale of crude oil from ISIS controlled areas and as transit route for Western youths willing to join ISIS, to the quite revealing effort to instigate division against efforts at uniting against ISIS, the connections between Erdogan and ISIS had been out in the open for all to see for damn too long, yet most had missed it.

The first step to addressing the ISIS nightmare is a regime-change in Turkey.

Prior blogpost on Erdogan-ISIS links:
http://ezeluchie.blogspot.com.ng/2014/10/a-justiciable-responsibility-to-prevent.html

Picture: Mr. Tayyip Erdogan 

Erdogan: Warring To Protect ISIS.

By Eze Eluchie

To curtail the momentum against  an effective international buildup against ISIS, one of the main backers of the hideous terror organization, Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan, in a vicious act of desperation, shoots down a Russian airplane to ensure that all thoughts of decimating ISIS is put on hold.

Timed to coincide with the week of international efforts by President Francois Hollande to get the US, Russia and Western European democracies on the same page, the intentions of the Turkish President is clear to all but those who choose to wallow in self-deceit.

Will Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan succeed?

Will Erdogan get away with this vile act against the international community?

As ISIS gets another 'lease of life' as a result of the Turkish actions, the world is doomed to more dastardly terror attacks!

Clearly, the real dangers to international cohesion and global peace are manifesting.

http://ezeluchie.blogspot.com.ng/2014/10/a-justiciable-responsibility-to-prevent.html

Picture: Turkish President, Erdogan, and a prototype of the downed Russian SU-24 fighter-jet.  

Diverse Reactions To Terrorists: Russia, France and Nigeria.

by Eze Eluchie

One more reason why we are where we are and the rest of the world keeps on forging ahead is encapsulated in the reaction of our current President to terror when compared with how others react to terror:

"To forgive the terrorist is up to God, but to send them to Him, is my duty."

"There's no statute of limitations for this, we need to know all of their names. We're going to look for them everywhere wherever they are hiding. We will find them in any place on Earth and punish them."

-        Vladimir Putin, Russian President responding to the downing of Russian Plane by ISIS terrorists.

'We will lead the fight and we will be ruthless, and we had to be here among the people who were subject to these atrocities because when the terrorists are capable of doing such acts, they must know that they will face a France very determined - a France united'
'France will destroy ISIS'
- Francois Hollande, French President responding to ISIS attacks on Paris.

"An attack against Boko Haram is an attack against the North"

 "If the Boko Haram leadership eventually agrees to turn over the Chibok girls to us – the complete number – then we may decide to give them amnesty!"

-        Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s President responding to efforts by Nigerian army to contain Boko Haram

Could the Heads of Governments above be talking about the same problem? Extremist Islamist terrorists who have killed thousands and continue to threaten to kill many more thousands? For global efforts to diminish and eventually eradicate extremist Islamist terror, wheresoever it may exist, to succeed, there must be unanimity of purpose and efforts and zero-tolerance for entities or administration which hobnob with these despicable creatures or in anyway offer them respite, refuge or relevance.

The fact that the Muhammadu Buhari administration is continuing with its devious path to ‘negotiate’, offer pardon and or amnesty to a group that continues to bomb, behead, inclusive of lethal suicide-bomber attacks within the past three days in Yola and Kano (cities in Northern Nigeria, which led to the death of over 40 persons and injury to several hundreds, and in so many other ways terrorize not just Nigerians but also the international community, by means of their avowed affiliation to ISIS, is indeed most troubling.

Muhammadu Buhari’s government has ordered the release of countless Boko Haram terrorists and gone into negotiations with some of them with a view to according them safe passage from justice - at the same time, the Buhari regime is marshalling Nigerian soldiers to ‘crush’ peaceful protesters in Nigeria’s South-East and South-South regions (a zone Muhammadu Buhari has derisively referred to as those who gave him 5% votes and whom he wil treat unequally with the rest of Nigeria), calling for the restructuring and renegotiation in of the Nigerian contraption.

Muhammadu Buhari, the world is watching with increased and steadily increasing interests....

Picture: Russia’s Putin, France’s Hollande and Nigeria’s Buhari.

Scrap The EFCC!

by Eze Eluchie,  

Over the years, each passing head of Nigeria's omnibus anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, has from their involvement in sleaze and other impure activities served to embarrass not only the law enforcement community, locally and internationally, but also added to the poor perception of Nigeria (by Nigerians and the international community alike) in matters regarding corruption.

From Nuhu Ribadu (who transformed the EFCC to a thuggish-Gestapo outfit doing the bidding of then Head of State Olusegun Obasanjo) to Farida Waziri (who spent here period in office hobnobbing with some characters her office was meant to prosecute) to the immediate past helmsman, Ibrahim Lamorde (who was busy diverting whatsoever the agency was recovering from ‘corrupt persons’ and ran out of Nigeria, under the pretext of ‘going for medical treatment’ to avoid appearing to defend sundry allegations before the Senate of the Federal Republic), all former Chairmen of the EFCC had been disgraceful in office. All past heads of the EFCC have left their offices 'better financially endowed' with 'bulging pockets' and leaving the rest of us wondering how such scams could have been perpetuated under the guise of an entity established to lead the ‘war against corruption’. There is likewise no believe or hope, whatsoever, that the newly appointed acting-Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, who himself is a veteran of the rot in the establishment, will be any different.

The root problem of the EFCC lies in its foundations – it was set up by a most fraudulent character, ex-dictator Olusegun Obasanjo, whose real objectives were far removed from addressing corruption.

The way forward is to scrap the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, merge its existing operations and activities with the already existing and well established Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), then build up the capacity of the SFU with specialized training's and beefing up the infrastructure and equipment available to the SFU-NPF. Is the SFU-NPF populated by angels? Certainly no! But the Police Force has a more established structure with inbuilt and time-tested rot-sifting mechanisms which is more amenable to judicial review, scrutiny and legislative oversight.  

In addition to the people of Nigeria who have lost so much to the rot in the EFCC, others who have been equally scammed by the unfortunate happening in the EFCC include the various foreign missions which had bestowed huge sums in prepping up the EFCC – save of course those foreign entities who merely used the EFCC to serve as a ‘loot recovery agent’ to protect the foreign governments interests.

Are we safe writing on this topic? Hmmmm. Well, we already live in a very unsafe environment.

Let us scrap the EFCC!

Picture: EFCC logo, past Chairpersons of the EFCC: Nuhu Ribadu, Farida Waziri and Ibrahim Lamurde; and acting Chair, Ibrahim Magu.

War On Terror: There Are More Questions Than Answers.......

by Eze Eluchie,

Did it have to take the dastardly attack by ISIS on Paris (13^th November 2015) for the French authorities to realize what mortal harm ISIS posed to humanity and then embark on the massive ariel bombardment of Raqqah and other ISIS positions in Syria?

Why has the United States and its partners failed and or refused to share intelligence on ISIS with other countries willing to take on ISIS? Only sharing required intelligence with France after the sordid attacks of 13^th November.

Will Amnesty International, and other such groups, which had the temerity to accuse Nigeria’s military of ‘war crimes’ and ‘crimes against humanity’ in response to our soldiers robust reaction to the Chibok ‘abductions’ have the guts to dare question the right of France to hit back at terrorist elements, wherever they are and whosoever their backers are, who attacked France on 13^th November?

Why has the world tolerated the romance between Saudi and Turkish authorities and ISIS thus far?

Why is there yet no unified stance against all Islamist terrorist organizations and their funders, across the world? ISIS, AQIM, Al Nusra, Boko Haram, Al, Shabaab or whatsoever!

In the global 'war against terror', there simply are much more questions than answers. And as the old reggae song goes, ‘the more I ask, the less I know’.

Picture: French President, Francois Hollande, declaring the ISIS attack on Paris an act of war to which France will ‘revenge’.

Terror Migrates To Europe

by Eze Eluchie

As Terror Migrates To Europe.

As we commiserate with the victims of terror in France, watching the carnage unfolding in Paris this night, with multiple terror attacks across diverse centers, History will definitely ask what German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, was high on, when she decided to open up Europe to so many unscreened ‘refugees’ from Arabia.

Terror has migrated to Europe. Europe is forever changed!

Picture: German Chancellor, Angela Merkel.

Pro-Biafra Protests: Mr. President, Rein In The Military!

by Eze Eluchie

The President and Commander in Chief of Nigeria’s Armed Forces and the new Minister of Defense should caution the military personnel from making comments on matters far above their mandate and scope.

The recent Press Releases signed by and comments made by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar and the Acting Director, Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, threatening to unleash the military on persons engaged in peaceful demonstrations over agitations for self-actualization in the South-East and South-South is uncouth, unprofessional, quasi-criminal and most unbecoming of trained soldiers whose pay and upkeep depends on public funds.

Are the comments by the top brass of our military indicative of an already planned operation to commit heinous crimes against an identified people in their legitimate quest for self-determination and self-actualization? Are these comments a furtherance of General Muhammadu Buhari’s avowed position to treat unequally those areas that gave him ‘5% votes’ during the last presidential elections? 

The issue gets more worrisome when it is realized that those making these threats against peaceful protesters hail from regions far removed from the protesters. These comments coming at a time when our military has been bogged down by intractable terror attacks by Boko Haram in our Northeastern region leaves much room to be desired.

Dialogue and peaceful arbitration remains the answer. Such threats to ‘crush’ peaceful demonstrations have no place in our current efforts at democratic governance.

General Muhammadu Buhari, the world is watching with keen interests....

Pictures: Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar and Col. Sani Usman, Army Public Relations Director.

MTN Fine: Appropriate Punishment for Recalcitrant Corporate Bodies

by Eze Eluchie

I congratulate the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) for its landmark decision to slam the recalcitrant mobile telecommunication service provider, MTN, with an appropriate fine for its blatant transgression and disrespect for our domestic laws and regulations. This is the way to go!

Considering it is not possible to incarcerate a corporate body, imposing fines for violations or infractions of laws and regulations remains the most viable means to ensure compliance with regulations. 

A key factor which underscores the sovereignty of any State is its ability to make and enforce domestic legislation's geared towards the betterment of its population. When foreign organizations operating within the territory of a state are allowed to flout domestic laws at will and believe that they can get away with such violations by bribing some regulatory agency officials or other unethical practices, the integrity of a state and its institutions and its very sovereignty are brought into question.

The practice of penalizing corporate bodies which violate national laws or act inappropriately is universal. The United States, European Union and other States routinely adopt this practice to achieve corporate compliance with State objectives. Far heftier fines have been imposed in other climes, such as the U.S.$258 million fine imposed on Deutsche Bank AG by New York and US Banking regulators for infringing on Banking Laws (US$200 million of the sum was actually imposed by New York State); The U.S.$9 Billion fine paid to US authorities by French Bank, BNP Paribas SA for infringing US banking regulations; a total of over U.S.$259 Billion has been paid by Banks for infractions of national laws to governments in the United States and Western European since 2009.

Clearly, levying fines on corporate organizations for infractions of national laws is one veritable source of income and punishment for bad behavior which governments in sub-Sahara Africa seem to have neglected. Considering the level of impunity with which multinational conglomerates operating across sub-Sahara Africa go about their businesses, the harm occasioned to the governments and peoples of the various States will certainly be ameliorated to a great extent if appropriate and commensurate fines are levied on and collected from these wayward corporate bodies.

The fine imposed by the Nigerian Government against telecommunication giant, MTN, is very much in order. Other serial violators of our domestic laws which the Government should actively commence penalty procedures against include the Construction companies (who continue to transport their staff and materials in very compromising manners despite several warnings), the Banks (which continue to brazenly launder funds and inordinately impose spurious charges on their customers) and of course the crude oil producing companies (whose practices continue to decimate our populations and environment in our oil producing areas.

For once, I am glad to support an initiative of the Muhammadu Buhari presidency.

Comparative fines levied in the United States and EU countries.

http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/litigation-costs_swiss-bank-fines-dwarfed-by-us-british-peers/41621318

Picture: Logo of MTN Group

Our Natural Disasters

by Eze Eluchie

Hurricanes, we don’t have;

Tsunamis we likewise don’t see;

Monsoons are alien to our clime;

Earthquakes never come our way;

Heat waves occur in other continent;

Mudslides we only hear of in distant shores;

Snow storms, to us, are the stuff fables are made of;

Yet our lands suffer more devastation than other continents from our unique natural disasters – a kleptocratic rulership and an imbecilic followership!

A rulership whose kleptocratic disposition serves to strip their populations of their humanity, enslave minds, retard thought processes, destroy the environment and natural endowments whilst at the same time managing to make themselves laughing stock in the international arena; and a followership whose will to resist oppression has seemingly been whittled down by years of malnutrition and deft manipulations by external elements intent on retaining a strangle hold over the riches of the continent.  

This has been, and remains, the bane of Sub-Sahara Africa – overcoming this dual calamity is our hope for meaningful existence and positive contribution to humanity.

It is possible to overcome. We simply have to desire and work for the change. 

The cost will be dire, but the gains of such resolve and actions far surpasses the death we are living. 

Picture: Some African Natural Disasters and the real Natural Disasters

The Chibok ‘Abductions’ Fraud Continues……

by Eze Eluchie

"We have an idea where the girls are. Our main problem is... what we promised to constituencies where these girls were abducted, was that we wanted to rescue them alive”
-       General Muhammadu Buhari (President, Federal Republic of Nigeria speaking on Aljazeera’s UPFRONT with Mehdi Hasan. 16th October 2015)

With the above comments, Muhammadu Buhari threw himself headlong into the fraud the ‘Chibok abductions’ have always been and represents.

The President of Nigeria has ‘an idea’ where over 200 (no one has yet come up with an authentic figure) female students of the Chibok Secondary School, purportedly ‘abducted’ by Boko Haram terrorists over 500 days ago, are, and yet refrains from doing the needful on the flimsy excuse that he promised to ‘rescue them alive’. Hmmmmm!

What kind of life does President Buhari believe these girls have been living or enduring in the past 500+ days held against their will, by vicious terrorists who have no iota of regard for either human life or the girl-child. And this President wants us to believe that he is unaware of the Chibok ‘abduction’ charade?   

Nigerians are quite mindful of the fact that the ring-leaders of the #BringBackOurGirls gang which internationalized the ‘abductions’ of the students from Chibok Secondary School in Bornu State, Northeastern Nigeria, portraying the then incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan as a weakling without the slightest clues as to tackling the Boko Haram menace and paved the way for the (s)election of the Muhammadu Buhari, have since been appointed to plum political offices under the new  dispensation in Nigeria.

It is high time the International Criminal Court was invited to investigate and hopefully prosecute the vile characters who wasted so many young girls for mere political gains!

President Buhari on Aljazeera’s UpFront with Mehdi Hasan:

http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/upfront/2015/10/buhari-defeat-boko-haram-151016160004647.html

Picture: The conflicting rallies for Chibok in Nigeria

Dubious Claims Against The Nigerian Military By Amnesty International.

by Eze Eluchie

I hope the Amnesty International gang that had the temerity to come to Nigeria and address a media briefing where they accused the Nigeria military of committing imagined and spurious ‘war crimes’ and ‘crimes against humanity’ against Boko Haram terrorist elements, and their local collaborators in Nigeria inclusive of the current Chair of our Human Rights Commission, will enjoy this video (url link attached) of the terrorists beheading a Nigerian soldier – a vocation these terrorists are adept at.

Perhaps next time our troops capture Boko Haram terrorists, they should call upon Amnesty International and deliver such scum-bags of the earth directly to the location of the headquarters of this so-called ‘human right organization’ for ‘safe keeping and dignified treatment’.

To our heroic soldiers, defending the contraption against hellish terrorists, remain assured that though the system and polity you are fighting for is flawed, you are held in highest esteem and reverence by the vast majority of the people of the Federal Republic.

Your sacrifices will not be in vain. Rest in Peace!

http://bit.ly/1PqPM66

http://on.fb.me/1Mw2Ypr

Picture: Nigerian soldier executed, by beheading, by BH terrorists in Bornu State, Northeastern Nigeria.

President Buhari's Ministerial Nominees: Petition Against Inequitable and Unconstitutional Acts. 1

The President of the Senate of the Federal Republic

Through The Distinguished Chairman

Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions

Senate of the Federal Republic

Three Arms Zone, Abuja.

Dear Senator Samuel Anyanwu,

RE: NOMINATION OF SENATOR HADI SIRIKA (AN INDIGENE OF KATSINA STATE).

PETITION AGAINST THE NOMINATION OF A SECOND MINISTER FROM KATSINA STATE INTO THE FEDERAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AT A TIME WHEN OVER 10 STATES OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC ARE YET TO HAVE A SINGLE NOMINEE IN THE SAID FEC.

I write in my capacity as a Citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria concerned about the need to uphold the sanctity and supremacy of the subsisting Constitution of the Federal Republic, as amended, and overriding need to sustain and maintain a semblance and reality of justice, equity and good governance amongst the various constituent States and peoples of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Background of Petition:

Following the resolution on the floor of the Senate of the Federal Republic that persons concerned about any aspects of the process or nominees for Ministerial positions by the President of the Federal Republic should submit petitions to your office, I do hereby humbly petition your office with regards to the nomination of Senator Hadi Sirika, from Katsina State.

In the course of his visit to France, President Muhammadu Buhari, announced, at a widely publicized media event, that he intends to preside over the Ministry of Petroleum affairs as the substantive Minister. President Buhari had in the course of that media event given his reason for retaining the office of Minister of Petroleum affairs as the need to maintain sanity and integrity and a corruption-free Ministry.

Knowing the perception of Nigerians, particularly, and the international community, at large, of President Buhari as a man ‘who comes with a reputation of integrity’, and considering Mr. President’s Constitutional powers to assign Ministerial portfolios at his sole discretion, it can be considered that Mr. President was neither lying nor bluffing but means to serve as the Minister of Petroleum of the Federal Republic in his Cabinet.

President Muhammadu Buhari, in his Letter to the Senate, via the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic, nominated Senator Hadi Sirika, who hails from the same Katsina State as President Buhari, as a person to be screened for purposes of being appointed a Minister of the Federal Republic.  The said nomination of Senator Hadi Sirika is being made at a time when only 21 other persons representing 21 States of the Federal Republic had been nominated as Ministers of the Federal Republic.

The nomination of Senator Hadi Sirika at a time when President Buhari has announced himself as a Minster of the Federal Republic, will give Katsina State the undue advantage of having 2 representatives in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at a time when several other States are not represented on the said FEC.

The Constitution:

Section 147 (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic explicitly provides as follows:

Any appointment under subsection (2) of this section by the President shall be in conformity with the provisions of section 14(3) of this Constitution:- provided that in giving effect to the provisions aforesaid the President shall appoint at least one Minister from each State, who shall be an indigene of such State.

Section 14(3) further provides as follows:

The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few States or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.

It is thus quite trite, following from the above provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic that before any State of the Federal Republic can have two representatives or two nominees on the FEC, all 36 States of the Federal Republic and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, must have had one nominee each or substantive confirmed and serving Ministerial appointees on the Federal Executive Council.

The nomination of Senator Hadi Sirika, if positively considered by the Senate, will directly infringe the provisions, intendments and spirit of the Constitution of the Federal Republic as it will accord Katsina State the unfair distinction of having 2 of its indigenes, to wit: President Muhammadu Buhari and Senator Hadi Sirika, in the Federal Executive Council, at a time when several States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have not gotten a single nominee or representative on the Federal Executive Council. This would be in express violation of explicit provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic.

Prolonged inequity and unconstitutionality:

Considering the length of time it has taken President Buhari to submit his nominees for Ministerial appointments to the Senate and his several avowals and expressed commitment to reduce the size of the Federal Executive Council and Ministries, there is a high likelihood that if the Senate proceeds to consider and or approve the nomination of Senator Hadi and accord Katsina State an unfair and unconstitutional advantage in the Federal Executive Council, such inequity and unconstitutionality may last for quite a prolonged and uncertain period.

It is my contention, a contention based on and supported by explicit provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic, that no State can have more than one nominee or representative on the FEC at a time when all 36 States of the Federation and the hFederal Capital Territory, Abuja, have not likewise had an opportunity of having one nominee or representative on the said FEC.

Prayer:

In view of the foregoing, I do hereby call upon the Senate of the Federal Republic to reject the nomination of Senator Hadi Sirika on grounds that it will lead to a violation Section 147 subsection 3 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic and to also, likewise reject any further nomination for Ministerial appointments of persons from States which are either already represented in the Federal Executive Council or have a prior nominee already, until such a time as when all 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, would have in compliance with Constitutional provisions, have had a substantive Ministerial representative on the Federal Executive Council.

In respectful and earnest anticipation of your positive consideration of this Petition.

Remain assured of my highest regards

Picture: Image of the Constitution and Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 

Nigeria, Truly 1-Year Polio-Free?

by Eze Eluchie,

On 24^th July 2015, health authorities in Nigeria practically rolled out the drums to celebrate what could be a public health feat of local and international implications, going 365 days without any report of a child falling to the Poliomyelitis virus. For several years, Nigeria had, maintained the dubious distinction of being the major source via which the Poliomyelitis virus continued to plague the African continent, and the only African state of a troika of territories where the wild polio virus continues to remain endemic – the others being Pakistan and Afghanistan.

With the feat purportedly achieved in Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan remained the only 2 territories where the crippling and lethal Polio virus still held sway.

From a lavishly broadcast ‘immunization campaign’ personally launched and performed by the President in his home State, Katsina, to a visit by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban ki-Moon,  whose visit was timed to coincide with the ‘achievement’, who lavished encomiums on Nigerian authorities for the attainment, the newly inaugurated government headed by Muhammadu Buhari wanted all to believe that in a very short period of their existence, a monumental feat in the area of public health had been attained – ridding Nigeria of the Polio virus.

If indeed Nigeria was truly Polio-Free, it would truly be a remarkable development and giant leap towards eliminating a totally avoidable scourge that serves to diminish potential of its victims, rendering so many of them paralyzed . If only, Nigeria was indeed Polio-free.

The veracity of the claim by Nigerian authorities was directly put into question by the seemingly unrelated announcements from Nigeria’s military commanders engaged in efforts to dislodge Boko Haram terror elements from territories controlled by the terror group in Nigeria’s Northeastern zone, to the effect that Nigerian troops had retaken possession of the largest commercial town in Nigeria’s northeastern flank – Bama, and its environs. Since the announcement made by the Nigeria military, several other towns previously under Boko Haram control have been pronounced ‘liberated’ from control by the terrorists. In all of these ‘reclaimed’ towns and villages, thousands of women, children and babies, who had been cut-off from contact and purview of Nigerian government authorities for several months, were also liberated.

When it is realized that this same Northeast zone of Nigeria where thousands of children, some of whom have not received any of the routine prescribed immunization shots, inclusive of the Polio vaccinations, is the core polio-endemic area in Nigeria, the area that has served as the black sheep, black spots, with institutionalized suspicion and rejection of Immunization Campaigns, it becomes clear that the celebration of ‘1-year Polio-free’ by Nigeria might have been a bit too hasty. The declaration of 1-year Polio-free’ by Nigerian authorities needs to be taken with extreme caution and preparedness to continue with a renewed vengeance on the Polo virus when its resurgence in our Northeast zone is finally reconfirmed.

A Polio-Free Nigeria would surely be a wonderful and monumental development for global health security; but the hasty removal of Nigeria from the list of Polio-endemic countries by the World Health Organization (WHO), when definitive nationwide coverage across all parts of the country, particularly in our Northeast zone where Nigerian troops are in continued efforts to regain territory and liberate citizens from the control of terrorists, has not been attained, could eventually prove to be counterproductive.

Picture: Some victims of Poliomyelitis in Northeastern Nigeria.