19 minute read
Op.Ed
OPINION
Shishi-less strategy
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By Kene Obiezu
In spite of his many shortcomings, President Muhammadu Buhari has tried to plug the many leakages to public funds deliberately designed by the komodo dragons who feast on the country. For them, a president who shares money is not just a president but a prophet and even a physician who will cure Nigeria of her infirmities.
In the pit that is politics in Nigeria, pittances are pearls.
They are a stark mark of unyielding and unbending poverty, the kind of poverty that pulverizes the mind, laying waste to what there is and seeding a disease that is invisible but invincible.
Nigeria is a land lain waste. From the beginning, it was trampled under the boots of callous colonialists. Independence came in 1960 and while a newly independent country was struggling to find its feet, its oppressors came in khaki uniforms, pledging death and issuing decrees.
Then came the weasels of war which were only forerunners to the wolves unleashed against the Southeast between 1967-70 as a country crumbled under the weight of its wannabes.
Between 1970 when the war supposedly ended and 1999 when the delicacies of democracy again danced their way to Nigeria’s starving tables, Nigeria’s khaki-clad tormentors let the country enjoy only brief moments of respite.
Their shadows loom large even till this day as the infamous Abacha loot continues to come home and with it a litany for the leeches that continue to leer at Nigeria’s nakedness.
Since 1999 however, Nigeria’s tactful and treacherous traducers have been mostly civilians rebranded as politicians. With the return of democracy came all the dreams that had been cruelly aborted under different military regimes – dreams of free speech, of elections, of independent media, but most crucially, of a free prosperous people.
With the distinct possibility of elections came the formation of political parties which are the associations that necessarily support the mechanics of democratic elections in Nigeria.
Into these different parties decorated by different names and symbols but markedly similar in their scandalous lack of ideology have dispersed many of the dupes responsible for the depredations that currently afflict Nigerians.
All manner of people are politicians these days. People convicted of drug-running and fraud in foreign countries where the law takes no prisoners have returned to Nigeria and become political heroes. People wanted for crimes in other countries straddle Nigeria’s political space with magisterial authority.
The results are riotously clear for all to see . Leadership in Nigeria has come to be afflicted with a poverty of ideas and implementation. This has birthed a country crippled by incompetence, inertia and corruption.
In the last eight years especially, Nigerians have lived a leadership nightmare. As poverty and insecurity have scythed through Nigeria with terrifying consequences, Nigerians have been forced to look at themselves over and over again.
It is said that people always get the leaders they deserve. Nigerians have never had good leaders in the country.If this argument holds true, Nigerians have never deserved good leaders.
The 2023 general election is fast approaching. Already, it has thrown up all manner of permutations. The major and minor political parties have since put forward their candidates. Campaigns have long opened. The usual suspects are in the race along with a couple of newcomers who are threatening to breast the tape on their first attempt.
For the Labour Party and Peter Obi, its candidate, an earthquake rumbles deep in the belly of Nigeria’s politics.
The weight of his words on the campaign trail gives off the whiff of someone who knows just what Nigeria’s problems are and what has to be done to solve them. If he wins the race, he may yet be overwhelmed by the problems. But that he seems to have a handle on the challenges has made many Nigerians to take notice.
But more than the wisdom he exudes when discussing Nigeria’s seemingly intractable challenges is the mammoth danger his personal and political philosophy poses to a disease that is at the heart of Nigeria’s leadership failures.
It is the politics of crumbs and craps and crabs and craft with each feeding off and sustaining the other. With bad leadership having hastened the institutionalization of poverty around the country, Nigerian politicians – master opportunists that they are – have deified money while refining the role its plays during elections.
The strategy is simply to hand out chicken feed to gullible Nigerians in exchange for their votes. The items usually range from clothing to seasoning, a little rice and some money here and there.
Recently, the items have been upgraded to include some beans with the stipend jumping from two thousand naira to five thousand naira and even ten thousand naira in some cases. The result is that many Nigerians are hooked.
Where are they sharing money, many people ask during elections? They should come and share money, say. While some Nigerians have retained their senses in spite of the lure of filthy lucre, out of the mentality of the maddening mob for whom elections are only about money has emerged a stereotype that the politician who does not share money cannot be trusted.
This stereotype has become a rod for Peter Obi’s back. The astute business man who as Anambra State Governor brought an unprecedented level of shrewdness and prudence to public spending has maintained all through his bid to become Nigeria’s president that he abhors this nauseating politics of craps and crumbs.
He has steadfastly maintained that he is a firm believer in the fact that money should be spent properly. Many of Nigeria’s political buyers and sellers have taken offence at him, slapping their ears shut at his words.
It was Peter Obi’s conviction that he could not participate in such breadcrumbs politics that saw him jump ship from the Peoples Democratic Party shortly before its primaries descended into an unregulated match of avaricious buying and selling.
Peter Obi’s courageous stand in a country where many values have been lost to the vicious cycle of vice spun by vultures has ironically brought many Nigerians who want a sanitized country aboard his charabanc of change.
However, for political merchants like Reno Omokri whose farcical flippancy knows no bounds, Peter Obi’s stinginess won’t suit Nigeria if he becomes President. Omokri recently warned that were Peter Obi to become President, ASUU will embark on an unending strike as he would be unwilling to meet the demands of the members of the union.
Reno Omokri who was an aide to Goodluck Ebele Jonathan when the latter was president definitely belongs to the league of leeches who having latched on to Nigeria in the past to great benefit want a return to the past.
In spite of his many shortcomings, President Muhammadu Buhari has tried to plug the many leakages to public funds deliberately designed by the komodo dragons who feast on the country. For them, a president who shares money is not just a president but a prophet and even a physician who will cure Nigeria of her infirmities.
But such is not the kind of President Nigeria needs now. Nigeria needs a president who has a track record of accountability and transparency with public funds.
Unless Nigeria gets such a president who will be willing to lead the way by force of personal example into office, a desperate country will be doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past.
Kene Obiezu, Twitter: kenobiezu
Mobilising youths for civic duty in 2023
By Mujeeb Awonuga
A poem by Joe Carnahan culled from the movie, ‘The Grey’, which reads, “Once more into the fray; into the last good fight I’ll never know; live and die on this day; Live and die on this day”, loudly echoes the energy and mentality that every Nigerian youth must develop, maintain, and sustain in anticipation of the upcoming 2023 general elections (the seventh of its kind since the beginning of the Fourth Republic). I must state that the word ‘die’ used in the poem doesn’t convey a literal interpretation in this piece.
This energy must be similar to that exuded by warrior-youths who stared death in the face during the historic and revolutionary 2020 #Endsars protests. Like the poem suggests, the 2023 general elections are a fight we must never run away from. But the question remains: How many youths are willing and ready to? The answer appears to be a resounding ‘nobody’ because no one(not even the country’s over 150 million youths) seems to be disturbed as the country continues to plunge headlong into an abysm of doom and nothingness.
Despite the 62 years down the line of public mismanagement, abuse of office, unfulfilled promises, unrealistic manifestos, political monopolisation, projects that begin never to end, and the practice of a loopsided democracy where the rich get richer and the powerful hunger for more power while the masses — the very essence of the existence of this nation — continue to wallow in despair and abject poverty, Nigerian youths have a rich history of showing apathy to the electoral sector, showing no interest in what happens to them in that regard.
They always seem to have an ever-ready unending list of ‘whys’ and ‘wherefores’ to justify their undue apolitical stances. However, it is high time the youths began to embrace the idea of a paradigm shift; a recalibration that will amount to change.
In recent times though, it is thrilling and inspiring to see this generation of youths expressly agitating towards 2023 with increased involvement in the electoral process. Recent statistics from the Independent National Electoral Commission show that 71 per cent of the twelve million newly registered voters are under 35 years, and that the 96.2 million registered voters have a youthful majority. These show that indeed, there is a strong desire for change. Therefore, we the youths have no excuse not to be involved in the 2023 general elections. And yes, it is time to change the narrative.
I must, however, put it to you and anyone who cares to listen that being involved in the electoral process come 2023 goes beyond registering to be a voter; it goes beyond being in possession of the much coveted Permanent Voter Cards; it goes beyond airing your thoughts on social media (as in recent times); it goes beyond leaving the comfort of our homes and casting our votes. The strife for 2023 transcends beyond 2023.
It is about pooling resources, strengths, and ideas and putting efforts (big and small) to make 2023 a success by choosing the right leaders. It is about standing firm on the principles of democracy and duly requesting a transparent and accountable government from those leaders. It is about going forward and questioning where we are, how we got here, how we are hurting, and what to do to stop hurting. It is about going against the youthful trend of sycophancy and standing for what is right. It is about aggressively advocating for youth inclusion in governance for indeed, being youthful is more than just the theme of the day, it is the song of the decade and centuries to come.
PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY JANUARY 18, 2023 COMMENT
The exceptional bus driver
By Ahmed Mahmud
As for the driver, he did not see his kindest act as anything important. He believes it is normal to return things that are not yours. He went further to say that,he too was very worried about my wife’s emotional state having realized that the laptop belongs to a company, hence he made sure he came to to station earlier than usual.
This man. He’s a bus driver in Ajah area of Lagos. He is fondly called Mr. Righteous.He is always in rain boots and professional overall.
He is also called an Engineer by all bus drivers at the bus station, apparently because of his choice of dressing.
His spoken English is Queens, very articulate and fluent. He hails from Imo State.
Without a doubt, he’s man of integrity, pillared by conscience and roundly revered by everybody in the car park.
He is a very simple man, about 5ft tall with white beard. I think he is in his late sixties.
Just last night, at about 7pm.
My wife entered his tiny bus, usually called Korope. She sat at the front with her company’s laptop which contained vital contents and information.
The distance to her destination wasn’t upto 4 kilometers. Still. She decided to drop the laptop by her side while seated.
Shockingly, when she arrived at her destination, she got off the bus without the laptop.
It was when she got home she realized her laptop was still on the bus.
Swiftly, we drove out in a bid to locate the man’s whereabouts since he’d told my wife that that was his last trip and he lives around Sangotedo’s ShopRite.
The traffic didn’t help the situation, but I managed to speed when there was a chance.
We got to the United Estate, but the man could not be found. Still we braved the traffic back to Ajah’s bus stop with the hope that he would return the laptop if sees it. Yet to no avail.
The entire time, my wife was understandably distraught. Praying, wailing and crying at the same time. She did so in a profuse scale wondering what is she going to tell her company.
For me, the speed in which I drove the car was unprecedented and I am thankful to God we had no accident.
As we got to Ajah and explained the situation to everyone, they expressed their empathy and assured us that the driver is a man of integrity and if he sees the laptop that he would surely return it.
We went back home at about 10 pm after exchanging telephone numbers with the drivers we met and promised them that we will return this morning since we were told the driver will surely be at the park today.
Throughout yesterday’s night my wife did not sleep and neither did I.
On the other hand, inspite of all the efforts I displayed to get the laptop back on real time, as a husband, I was blamed for the loss.
Understandably so, it is the nature of every woman. They blame their husbands for everything.
The tension in the house was high and I dared not say anything to escalate it.
If you are a married man reading this, you will have an ideaof what I am talking about.
As early as 7am this morning, my wife left for the bus station and I followed her shortly. We got there and waited for close to 2 hours narrating the situation to the drivers and engaged in conversations about incidents similar to ours. Boom!
At about 8 O’clock, the entire car park erupted in a wild jubilation as Papa emerged with the laptop. On sighting the driver,my wife broke down in tears of joy as we roundly gave the man an appreciave hug thanking him for his utmost sincerity.
As for the driver, he did not see his kindest act as anything important. He believes it is normal to return things that are not yours. He went further to say that,he too was very worried about my wife’s emotional state having realized that the laptop belongs to a company, hence he made sure he came to to station earlier than usual.
After handing over the laptop, I gave him money as a token of our appreciation, but Papa refused to take it
Please, I am using this medium to thank Papa and appeal to everyone reading this to pray for this man because he has saved my household from trouble.
With this demonstration, he has proven once again that God answers prayers and that Nigeria is full of Good Samaritans.
Finally, have confidence in Nigeria and Nigerians, because there are so so many good people in this beautiful land of ours.
Ukraine and Africa aim to bolster economic cooperation
By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh
Despite the former Soviet republic of Ukraine for almost a year, is experiencing the worst times due to an extensive special military operation from its neighbour Russia, it has simultaneously been stepping up efforts to support Africa. During the past year, it despatched tonnes of fertilizers, wheat, grains and other agricultural products to a number of African countries, most them located in the Horn and East Africa.
In order to boost its efforts in establishing cordial working relations especially in the area of economic cooperation, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Dmitry Kuleba last year visited a number of African countries, held useful conversations with high-powered government officials, and plans to open diplomatic representative offices this year inside Africa. It also plans to boost exports and participate in taking up opportunities of manufacturing offered by the single continental market.
The overarching message in all these is to focus on engaging and expanding the expected long-term partnership, and collaboratively establish trade links. For connecting business interests between Ukraine and Africa, Ukrainians are rapidly studying more possibilities for participating in the African Continental Free Trade Area which was already agreed on, in the process, with a number of African leaders and the African Union.
Early January, Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and Food Minister Nikolai Solsky visited Senegal, where he signed a memorandum of understanding between the Ukrainian ministry and the relevant Senegalese agency on January 9, the Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry website.
The document envisions the development of bilateral trade in agricultural produce and cooperation on scientific studies, investments, and interrelations between Ukrainian and Senegalese government agencies and private companies. It provides for the possible storage of Ukrainian grain at so-called grain hubs. Ukraine is willing to export not only foodstuffs but also other goods to African countries, which requires the development of logistical infrastructure.
The official document points out that Ukraine is considering the implementation of new logistical projects in Senegal to step up exports of its agricultural produce via the Port of Dakar. West African republic of Ghana plans to implement new logistics projects, which will help increase agricultural exports from Ukraine. Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and Food Minister Nikolai Solsky and Ghana’s Minister of Food and Agriculture Owusu Afriyie Akot, have thoroughly discussed steps to broaden agricultural cooperation and trade relations.
The parties discussed a potential joint project, a logistics hub that will be able to store food products, including grain, and will help stabilize food prices in the region. Besides Ghana and Senegal, Nigeria has also expressed high interest in setting up such hubs in its territory. The current geopolitical situation should rather have a reliable and diversified transit and transport infrastructure to destinations where it is badly needed especially naturally disasteraffected regions in Africa.
“There have been meetings in Ghana, Senegal, and Nigeria. These countries regularly take a lot of food products, especially wheat. These are major markets from the standpoint of their populations compared to the European market or many other countries. It doesn’t have such purchasing power, but it is big and is developing, and therefore, it needs to be monitored,” Ukrainian media quoted Solsky as saying.
Solsky said each country he had visited was interested in developing cooperation with Ukraine and ready to expand the capacity of their ports to increase the volume of Ukrainian grain unloaded and stored there. But, before launching the construction of hubs in Africa to transship Ukrainian grain, Ukraine needs to receive guarantees from the countries concerned including documenting the guarantees and the principles of operating them either by Ukraine, or whether it will be a state company, and how private traders will be involved in this cooperation.
Solsky said that his ministry would provide more information about infrastructure projects in mid-spring 2023, as in the coming months it would have to hold additional consultations with the authorities of African countries and businesses interested in Ukrainian grain exports to Africa.
Within the framework of the roadmap, it has launched its development projects including constructing facilities for storage agricultural foodstuffs and for onward distribution throughout some regional markets, to offset food shortages in Africa. Ukraine, however, insists that food and fertilizer trade should not be subjected to sanctions or any restrictions.
According to several reports carefully monitored by this author, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has held 18 conversations with African leaders in 2022, nine of which were the first instances of bilateral communication between Ukraine and these African countries. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry listed some of them such as Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, and Botswana.
President of Guinea-Bissau and Chairperson-in-Office of the Economic Community of West Africa Umaro Embalo visited Ukraine in October 2022. It was the first official visit by a leader of a sub-Saharan African state since 2004, according to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Dmitry Kuleba, for his part, held 35 phone calls and meetings with his counterparts from African countries in 2022, the ministry said. The first ever African tour by a Ukrainian foreign minister took place in October 2022. The report indicated that Minister Kuleba visited Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Kenya.
Ukraine’s Special Representative for the Middle East and Africa Maxim Subkh, appointed in July 2022, also visited five African countries. Within this emerging multipolar world, Ukraine is broadening its geopolitical influence, and of course it is important for Ukraine to fix its diplomatic presence on the continent to an appreciable level necessary for active interaction, in a continuous and efficient manner, with Africa. It has official representation, an observer status, at the African Union.
Arriving back to Kyiv after his visit to Washington in December, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in a video address, announced that Ukraine would open 10 new embassies in African countries. “We are rebooting relationships with dozens of countries in Africa. We must strengthen this as we have already determined ten countries where new Ukrainian embassies in Africa will be opened. We have also developed a concept of the Ukraine-Africa Trade House. Its offices will open in the capitals of the most promising countries of the continent,” he said.
President Zelenskiy considers Africa as a unique and dynamically developing continent with whom to have relations. In addition, these countries are steadily gaining political weight and achieving significant economic successes, it therefore becomes necessary to look for more new partners eventually targeting African countries.
The Chairman of the African Union and President of Senegal, Macky Sall, together with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, visited Moscow and Kyiv in an attempt to mediate the conflict, but without any result in sight. “We do not want to be aligned on this conflict, very clearly, we want peace. Even though we condemn the invasion, we’re working for a de-escalation, we’re working for a ceasefire, for dialogue … that is the African position,” Senegalese Macky Sall said, back in May 2022.
Meanwhile, Africa is still divided over the crisis between Russia and Ukraine, the crisis that have caused global economic instability since February 24, 2022. The African Union (AU) and African leaders understand aspects of the geopolitical complexities, implications and possible solutions to the existing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
